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Maxilensnews has authoritatively confirmed that the effort of the World Trade Organization to select a new leader was plunged into uncertainty on Wednesday after the United States rejected the Former Nigerian Minister of Finance, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala proposed as the global watchdog’s next director-general.
Three WTO ambassadors, charged with finding a successor to Brazilian Roberto Azevedo, had resolved that Nigeria’s Okonjo-Iweala should be the next chief as she had gained huge regional backing.
Their decision, which awaits approval from WTO members, span more than four-month selection process involving intensive lobbying which saw her favoured against South Korean trade minister Yoo Myung-hee in the final round.
The head of the “troika” of ambassadors relayed their recommendation to WTO members at a meeting on Wednesday.
However, the United States then said they did not back Okonjo-Iweala. The decision needs to be approved by consensus, meaning any WTO member could block her appointment.
“One delegation could not support the candidacy of Dr. Ngozi and said they would continue to support South Korean minister Yoo. That delegation was the United States of America,” WTO spokesman Keith Rockwell told reporters at the WTO’s headquarters in Geneva after the closed-door meeting.
The WTO has set a meeting to settle the matter for Nov. 9.
[…] WTO: Okonjo-Iweala not yet DG as appointment suffers set back […]