- Japan, S’ Korea’s Leaders In talks to give Myung-hee’s candidacy head-start…
- EU Tilts Dynamics In Favour of Okonjo-Iweala, Myung-hee…to Final Stage
- African Countries Strongly Divided, Majority Backing Amina Mohamed….
- Japan, US, South Korea Leaning Toward Myung-hee In Last Ditch Moves…
- China Keeps Mum, Still Weighing Various Options Few Hours Away…
By Hamilton Nwosa(Head, The New Diplomat’s Polling, Research and data desk)
As the race for the next Director-General of the World Trade Organization(WTO) enters its decisive stage, Japan’s new Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga and his South Korean counterpart, President Moon Jae-in have been engaged in crucial talks aimed at giving South Korea’s candidate, Yoo Myung-hee, a head start for the coveted seat of WTO DG. Both leaders, it was learnt agreed during discussions over the telephone last Thursday to work together to resolve their strained diplomatic and trade ties.
Diplomats believe that the peace deal is premised on last ditch efforts to bolster the chances of South Korea’s minister of Trade, Myung-hee who is vying for the WTO DG’s seat along with other formidable contenders including Nigeria’s former Finance minister, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Kenya’s former Trade and foreign Affairs Minister, Amina Mohamed , United Kingdom’s former Secretary of State for International Trade, Liam Fox and Saudi Arabia’s erstwhile Minister for Economy and Planning, Mohammed Al-Tuwaijri.
Read also: WTO: Uncertainties As Okonjo-Iweala, Amina Mohamed, Myung-hee Know Fate In 48 Hours!
The next 24 hours is most crucial as the fate of these five contenders for the coveted seat of DG of the World Trade Organization (WTO) would be decided by the WTO General Council under the leadership of Ambassador Walker of New Zealand.
Within the next few hours, the WTO General Council would pull the plug on three candidates and effectively prevent them from advancing further as it scales down its choice to two candidates.
Diplomatic and trade relations between Japan and South Korea has been historically tense, deteriorating to their worst levels during Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s era, fueling apprehensions that Japan may block South Korea’s candidate, Myung- hee in the on-going fierce jockey and maneuvering in Geneva for the DG of the WTO.
The New Diplomat investigations, as earlier reported, reveal that intense diplomatic intrigues, back-stabbing and trade-offs have reached all time high levels as various countries escalate scheming and jostles. High-level sources had confided in The New Diplomat that Geneva, the headquarters of the WTO has witnessed an upsurge of diplomats flying into the city in last ditch moves to engage, dialogue, trade-off and negotiate.
Read also: WTO: All Eyes On Okonjo-Iweala, Amina Mohamed, Myung-hee As US-China War Tilts Elements In Final Stage!
This is coming against the background of speculations that the attention of the Amb Walker-led Selection team seems leaning towards three women, namely Nigeria’s former Finance Minister, Okonjo-Iweala, Kenya’s former Trade and foreign Affairs Minister, Amina Mohamed and South Korea’s Trade Minister, Myung-hee.
By tomorrow, the Amb Walker-led WTO General Council comprising the duo of WTO head of Dispute Settlement, Amb Dacio Castillo and the organization’s chair of Trade Policy Review, Amb Harald Aspelund from Iceland, will announce the two candidates that would advance to the final stage of the selection process.
Sources confided in The New Diplomat that the odds seem to weigh in favour of three candidates namely, Kenya’s Amina Mohamed, Nigeria’s Okonjo-Iweala and South Korea’s Myung-hee. The Kenyan candidate is being tipped positively in some key boxes that represent the WTO’s mandate areas, a source said. Amina Mohamed is the first woman to chair the prestigious WTO General Council, among other high-profile roles in the organization. The WTO focal mandate areas include international trade, negotiations and dispute settlement and resolution.
However, multiple diplomatic sources told The New Diplomat that the EU is leaning towards Okonj-Iweala and Myung-hee while African countries are mainly divided with most supporting Amina Mohamed. A top diplomat disclosed that though the situation is still hazy, it is becoming glaring that Japan, US and South Korea will back Myung at the end. On China’s part, the diplomat said it does seem China has some last minute joker up her sleeves as she has remained mum in the face of the escalating campaigns for the WTO DG seat. However, analysts say it is still dicey but two women will most certainly make it to the final stage Tuesday. The three women in last minutes jostling are Okonjo-Iweala, Myung-hee and Amina Mohamed.
A multi-lingual diplomat, Lawyer, and international trade expert, Amina Mohamed has been minister in Kenya for various ministries including Trade , foreign Affairs, and Sports. In the course of her career, Mohamed had also previously chaired the WTO trade review policy and dispute settlement committee as well as its ministerial committee. She has served as Kenya’s Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the UN in Geneva, Assistant Secretary General at the United Nations(UN),Geneva, among others.
Read also: WTO Top Job: Settling US, China Rift Very Challenging Says Okonjo-Iweala
Amina Mohamed says her focus would be on three Rs if she is selected as the next DG. These are reforms, recovery, and renewal. She avers that her mission for the WTO, is predicated on the need “to recapture the visionary inspiration of the original architects of the system” and “breathe new life into the WTO” by helping rebuild economic resilience to boost growth and sustainable development globally. “I know this institution, I am passionate about it, I know the corridors, I have walked them, I have negotiated in them and I think it is one of the most amazing institutions for multilateral trading systems and negotiations,” she declared.
Okonjo-Iweala on her part, is a Harvard educated global specialist in international finance and development. She has served as Nigeria’s finance minister as well as having a stint as the country’s foreign Affairs minister . During her tenure as finance minister during Obasanjo’s administration , Nigeria secured debt-forgiveness, a feat that is regarded as a spectacular accomplishment for an African country. In addition to having served as a managing director of the World Bank, Okonjo-Iweala has been Chair of Gavi, the global Vaccine Alliance which seek ways of addressing the current global pandemic, among others.
According to Okonjo-Iweala she intends to “bring a fresh pair of eyes to the WTO’s challenges,” including “renewing and improving” the Organization. Her vision is anchored on the philosophy of “a WTO with Purpose,” where trade helps foster economic growth and sustainable development, and “fresh challenges. She plans to balance the intersection between trade and the environment, e-commerce, digital economy and dispute settlement. Okonjo-Iweala also highlights her rich global experience which she intends to bring on board.
For the South Korea’s candidate, Myung-hee, her goal is “to make the WTO more relevant, resilient, and responsive.” According to her, she intends to focus on the following priorities : MC12, including a successful and effective outcome on fisheries subsidies and “tangible outcomes” on e-commerce; WTO’s reforms mechanism including such subject matters as to “update the rule-books”, “deliver agreements with real economic impact,” “ restore the dispute settlement system, and implement agreements while increasing transparency; and sustainable development through inclusive trade initiatives and strengthened assistance to LDCs.”
Red also: Okonjo-Iweala Promises Giant Strides For WTO
Myung-hee who is South Korea’s Trade, Industry and Energy minister is a lawyer and public policy specialist. She was called to the New York, and also has a post-graduate degree in Public Policy. Previously, she has served as South Korea’s Minister of foreign affairs. Myung-hee sees herself as the “bridge” candidate, aiming to overcome the divide between the United States and China, as well as a candidate that would act as a bridge between rich countries and developing nations.
According to the WTO protocols, Tuesday is the prelude to the final selection process. The idea behind this is to enable WTO member nations to ascertain which candidate best meet the eligibility criteria for the post of DG. This stage will see the five candidates being scaled down to two.
The last stage of consultation is expected to yield to a final consensus candidate. Going by the procedural protocols, the Walker- led Council would likely select its final candidate in early November.
According to Walker, the logic behind this is “ to secure a consensus decision by members on the next Director-General.” However, a senior diplomatic source hinted that as the race enters its crucial phase, the intriguing elements and fierce games between, and among key regional power blocs are becoming much more glaring.
The WTO is looking for a new DG to succeed Brazilian Roberto Azevedo, who stepped down last month.
