WTO: Why Trump Is Stopping Okonjo-Iweala

By Emmanuel Aziken

Expectations of Nigeria’s Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala being immediately named as the next director-general of the World Trade Organisation, WTO have been put off until after the United States presidential election.

She is not expected to be named before the General Council of the WTO meets on November 9 following continued opposition to her nomination for the post by the United States administration, GWG has learnt.

Whereas most of the delegations to the trading body including the European Union and China had given their backing to Mrs. Okonjo-Iweala, the US not surprisingly on Wednesday said it was still against her.

“One delegation could not support the candidacy of Dr. Nogzi and said they would continue (supporting) South Korean minister Yoo,” Keith Rockwell, the WTO spokesman told reporters earlier on Wednesday.

“That delegation was Unites States of America,” he further added.

Dennis Shea, the US representative had at the last meeting on Wednesday of the troika representing the various delegations to the body said the US was still backing South Korean Trade Minister Yoo Myung-hee.

The backing of the US for the South Korean, GWG had earlier reported was based on her inclination towards bilateral approach to trade negotiations as against Mrs. Okonjo-Iweala’s multilateral approach which aims to group countries into trading blocs in resolving trading disputes.

The bilateral approach has been the policy of Mr. Donald Trump who in his foreign policies has sought to pick out nations to seek separate agreements as against discussing with multilateral institutions like the European Union.

The EU is, however, a strong supporter of Mrs. Okonjo-Iweala. Should Mr. Trump win the election there are fears that the US administration could go ahead with its earlier threats to leave the world trade body if it does not have its way on the South Korean.

WTO officials were on Wednesday, however, claiming that Wednesday’s talks were not meant to put an end to the long chapter for choosing a new DG of the WTO.

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