WTO:US Back Korean for Fear of China

Dr Okonjo-Iweala polled 163 votes out of 164 member countries on Wednesday, 28 October 2020 to edge out her only opponent,  South Korea’s trade minister at the final stage of the race. When sworn in, she would be the first African and the first female to attain the position of DG of coveted WTO. She was supported by countries in Africa, Austrialia, Caribbean, China, European Union and Japan. 

However, the United States has thrown its support for South Korea’s Yoo Myung-Hee as the next head of World Trade Organisation (WTO). The Office of the US Trade Representative, in a statement, on  Wednesday, said WTO must be led by someone with real, hands-on experience in the field and Minister Yoo has distinguished herself during a 25-year career as a successful trade negotiator. “The United States supports the selection of Korean Trade Minister Yoo Myung-hee as the next WTO Director-General.  Minister Yoo is a bona fide trade expert who has distinguished herself during a 25-year career as a successful trade negotiator and trade policymaker.  She has all the skills necessary to be an effective leader of the organisation. “This is a very difficult time for the WTO and international trade. There have been no multilateral tariff negotiations in 25 years, the dispute settlement system has gotten out of control, and too few members fulfil basic transparency obligations.  The WTO is badly in need of major reform.  It must be led by someone with real, hands-on experience in the field,” the statement read.

The fact remains that America is afraid of China soaring dominance! Is America more than the other 163 members? The other member nations have spoken in a clear terms who they wanted having considered their profiles. Traditionally, the WTO chooses its director general by consensus, with all 164 members having to approve a candidate. The US has been unhappy with the way the WTO has operated for some time now, vehemently objecting to China’s designation as a developing country and blocking the appointment of new judges to the organisation’s appeals body.

David Walker, the Chair of the General Council, said “She 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.” Now how can US unilaterally stall what 163 members supported?

“It is not hard to see that the US action fits Trump’s ideology of favouring bilateral trade deals over the multi-lateral system embodied by the WTO,” Meenal Shrivastava,  a professor of political economy at the University of Athabasca in Canada, said.

A WTO spokesman said her candidacy would be put to a meeting of the body’s governing general council on 9 November, adding that there was likely to be “frenzied activity” in the meantime to secure consensus. More so, the outcome of the US election where VP Joe Biden is expected to win will bring a twist to the brouhaha.

A spokesperson for Okonjo-Iweala said: “Dr Ngozi is immensely humbled to receive the backing of the WTO’s selection committee today.  “Dr Ngozi looks forward to the general council on 9 November when the committee will recommend her appointment as director-general. A swift conclusion to the process will allow members to begin work together, on the urgent challenges and priorities.” 

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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