WTO DG: Anxiety Over US, China, Japan, EU, Russia, Others Meeting Monday As Geneva Imposes Lockdown

Related stories

FG Secures $100m for Lagos-Calabar Project from ECOWAS Bank

By Abiola Olawale The Nigerian government has reportedly secured a...

Ex- Arsenal Star Thomas Partey Faces Rape, Sexual Assault Charges in UK

By Abiola Olawale The Metropolitan Police have formally charged former...

Edwin Cortes: Prefers Being A Small Puerto Rican Than Big American

By Owei Lakemfa To be a citizen of the United...

June 12 And The International Pursuit of Justice For Abiola, By Femi Falana

The June 12, 1993, pro-democracy struggle in Nigeria is...

Breaking Down the West’s $146 Billion 2024 Defence Technology Investment

Advanced technologies like drones, sensors, and even artificial intelligence...

The World Trade Organisation’s (WTO) Council meeting scheduled for next Monday in a bid to arrive at an overall consensus on its next Director-General may be further delayed following another wave of Covid-19 in Switzerland.

While some in-person meetings may be virtual, it was gathered that senior WTO officials are discussing whether to postpone the scheduled General Council meeting of Monday November 9, to deliberate upon the choice of former minister of finance and  Nigeria’s candidate, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, as the next director-general of the WTO.

Recall that the WTO General Council led by Ambassador David Walker of New Zealand had chosen Okonjo-Iweala and subsequently recommended her as DG designate to the WTO Council last week for confirmation.

According to the the WTO spokesman, Keith Rockwell, the  Ambassador Walker-led troika  premised its choice of Okonjo-Iweala on the fact that she has the highest level of preferences across regions, support across levels of development, and across all spectrum of dynamics.

However, at that meeting, the United States delegation took the floor and expressed the US decision to oppose Okonjo-Iweala’s choice, stressing that it would continue to support the South Korea’s candidate, and minister of Trade, Yoo Myung-hee.

Recall that On Sunday, Geneva’s cantonal authorities announced strict new lockdown measures amid a fresh  surge in infections and hospitalisations in the Swiss city.

From November 2 until November 29, the area will prohibit public and private events of more than five people.

The development has raised fresh anxiety as it could  further delay the WTO’s ability to confirm Okonjo-Iweala choice as the first African and first woman to lead the organisation in its 25-year history.

It would be recalled that a General Council meeting had been scheduled for November 9 at the WTO’s headquarters in Geneva to break the deadlock triggered in the choice of a new director-general after the United States opposed Okonjo-Iweala’s candidacy.

Okonjo-Iweala had been chosen over and above her only challenger, South Korea’s Trade Minister, Ms. YooMyung-hee, at the various consultation and deliberation sessions.

WTO spokesman, Keith Rockwell, did not immediately respond to Bloomberg’s requests for comment. On October 28, Washington had said it would oppose her bid because the United States preferred Myung-hee for the job.

Myung-hee has refused to withdraw from the race and has not responded to Bloomberg’s multiple requests for comment.

The US unilaterally opposed Okonjo-Iweala despite the fact that the WTO selection committee determined she, “clearly carried the largest support by members” and “clearly enjoyed broad support from members from all levels of development and from all geographic regions.”

The US move has disrupted the leadership race because all WTO decisions are made by a consensus of its 164 members, which means a single country – in this case, the US – can oppose a decision for any reason.

The office of the US Trade Representative, Robert Lighthizer, had recently provided some clarity as to why he opposed Okonjo-Iweala and what the administration’s ultimate goal is in blocking her appointment.

The WTO had in a recent statement stressed that its members indicated “strong preference for Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala as DG.”

The WTO General Council Chair, Ambassador Walker, had explained: “She (Okonjo-Iweala) clearly carried the largest support by members in the final round and she clearly enjoyed broad support from members from all levels of development and all geographic regions and has done so throughout the process.”

Owing to this, Walker said he submitted the name of Okonjo-Iweala as the candidate most likely to attract consensus and recommended her appointment by the General Council as the next director-general of the WTO until August 31, 2024.

The General Council is the WTO’s pre-eminent decision-making body, save for the Ministerial Conference, which normally meets every two years.

Nevertheless, the WTO leadership race now hinges on the outcome of Tuesday’s US presidential election.

Some trade officials said if Trump loses the election, as many polls are indicating, the WTO’s selection process could wait until after Joe Biden is inaugurated.

Some trade delegates told Bloomberg they would find a more constructive partner in Biden whose advisers have advocated for greater engagement with US allies and to strengthen multilateral institutions like the WTO.

But the WTO selection process may not move quickly even if Biden is elected. That’s because he won’t be inaugurated until January 20, 2021, and crucial domestic priorities such as delivering a financial stimulus package and stopping the spread of COVID-19 will take priority over WTO matters.

(*With content from Bloomberg and agency report)

'Dotun Akintomide
'Dotun Akintomide
'Dotun Akintomide's journalism works intersect business, environment, politics and developmental issues. Among a number of local and international publications, his work has appeared in the New York Times. He's a winner of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Award. Currently, the Online Editor at The New Diplomat, Akintomide has produced reports that uniquely spoke to Nigeria's experience on Climate Change issues. When Akintomide is not writing, volunteering or working on a media project, you can find him seeing beautiful sites like the sandy beaches that bedecked the Lagos coastline.

Subscribe

- Never miss a story with notifications

- Gain full access to our premium content

- Browse free from up to 5 devices at once

Latest stories

NDN
Latest News
FG Secures $100m for Lagos-Calabar Project from ECOWAS BankEx- Arsenal Star Thomas Partey Faces Rape, Sexual Assault Charges in UKEdwin Cortes: Prefers Being A Small Puerto Rican Than Big AmericanJune 12 And The International Pursuit of Justice For Abiola, By Femi FalanaBreaking Down the West’s $146 Billion 2024 Defence Technology InvestmentG7 vs. the World: GDP, Population, and Military StrengthUS drillers cut oil and gas rigs for 10th week in a row, Baker Hughes saysExclusive! Tinubu Tips Late Ajimobi's Wife, Florence, Others for Ambassadorial PostsTinubu Mourns, Pays Tribute to Legendary Super Eagles Goalkeeper Peter RufaiNatasha vs Akpabio: Court Orders Senate President To Recall Senator NatashaHadi Sirika Denies Defection to ADC Coalition Rumors, Reaffirms Loyalty to Buhari, APCChina Snubs U.S. Crude for Third Month, Even as Ethane Trade RestartsHow Super Eagles Icon Peter Rufai passed Away at 61Dakuku Peterside’s Beneath the Surface Book Out in OctoberOil Prices Dip on Confirmation of Inventory Build
X whatsapp