U.S. Throws WTO Director-General Selection Process Into Chaos, Possibly With an Eye on China

This combination of file pictures created on October 7, 2020, shows South Korean Trade Minister Yoo Myung-hee (L) in Geneva on July 16, 2020; and Nigerian former Foreign and Finance Minister Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala (R) in Geneva, July 15, 2020. Fabrice COFFRINI / AFP

The United States threw a wrench into the selection process for the World Trade Organization’s next Director-General when it moved on Wednesday to block the appointment of Nigerian-American Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala to support its preferred candidate Yoo Myung-hee, South Korea’s trade minister.

Washington’s stated reason for backing Yoo over Okonjo-Iweala was that Yoo comes to the job with far more actual trade experience. 

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by Eric Olander

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