WTO: DR NGOZI OKONJO IWEALA WILL BE SWORN IN LIKE DR AKINWUMI ADESINA

 

The WTO is run by its member governments. All major decisions are made by the membership as a whole,” the WTO website reads. “In this respect, the WTO is different from some other international organizations such as the World Bank and International Monetary Fund. 

The United States under Donald Trump showed open dislike for Nigeria during the re-election bid of Nigerian Dr Akinwumi Adesina of African Development Bank but made it despite American refusal to support his candidacy. 

The World Trade Organization’s effort to name a new leader hit a seemingly rock when Trump administration said it won’t back the appointment of Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala to be the WTO’s next director-general despite wide support for Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Nigeria’s candidate for the director-general of the WTO, the US has expressed its opposition to her emergence.

Dr Okonjo-Iweala emerged winner of the race with support from 104 of all 164 member countries of the WTO. Those countries include many in Africa and the European Union, where she had received public support. Despite being an American citizen, sources say the US does not consider Okonjo-Iweala as being committed enough to the interests of the world power at the flagship trade body.

Bloomberg had initially reported that the US was leaning towards Yoo Myung-hee, the South Korean candidate. Bryce Baschuk, Bloomberg’s WTO reporter, also tweeted on Wednesday that the US is opposed to Okonjo-Iweala’s emergence and the road forward remains “unclear”.

The heads of delegation of the WTO met yesterday by 3pm but yet to made known the outcome of their meeting. Unlike the World Bank where the US has a larger voting power than other countries, the WTO is run differently, by the consensus of every member country. America is not greater than the 164 countries that have voted.

“Where consensus is not possible, the WTO agreement allows for voting — a vote being won with a majority of the votes cast and on the basis of ‘one country, one vote’.” 

What is US up to and why this last minute opposition? Let's know your views on this through the comments section. 

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