US Threatens Okonjo-Iweala's WTO Job, As EU Want Her As DG

European Union (EU) has endorsed Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala for the Director-General position of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), a decision that moves against the United States' preferred choice. In a statement seen by AllNews, the EU described Okonj0-Iweala as extremely experienced, well qualified, and knowledgeable.

Okonjo-Iweala is vying for the WTO Director-General position with South Korea's Yoo Myung-hee. The EU delegates spoke to both candidates but endorsed Okonjo-Iweala after she disclosed her plans if she was appointed WTO DG.

EU, US Divided Over Okonjo-Iweala

The Donald Trump administration is reportedly on the side of Myung-hee, and this preferred choice of the US might affect Okonjo-Iweala's chances of becoming WTO Director-General. To become the head of the WTO, all 164 members of the top trade organisation have to unanimously support one candidate.

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This means one member can cost a candidate her chance of becoming a WTO head. The election for the position had seen five candidates eliminated, with just Okonjo-Iweala and Myung-hee reaching the final two - the new WTO Director-General will be announced next month, November 2020.

With the United States election coming in November, the appointment of the WTO Director-General might be delayed due to a possible change in leadership, as President Trump faces Joe Biden who has different political and trade views to Trump.

What the European Union Said About Okonjo-Iweala

EU said Okonjo-Iweala's political experience is the key to resolving the trade dispute of WTO members. They said she understood the fault lines dividing the WTO’s membership, and well-equipped for being the fair broker who could bring key players together.

"We appreciated, in particular, the vision that Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala presented in tackling the substantial challenges the organisation is facing. Her assessment of the existing problems of the organisation reveals a deep understanding of the fault lines dividing the WTO’s membership.

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“The priorities she set up for her first steps after being appointed for the position reveal a clear-eyed agenda, tackling head-on key topics such as special and differential treatment, industrial subsidies and dispute settlement reform, while recognising the need for positive momentum through the conclusion of agreements on such issues as fisheries, e-commerce, and health.”

The statement endorsing Okonjo-Iweala further stated that “We also appreciated the energy with which she is likely to approach her new role. It appears to us that her political approach is what is needed now to address the key questions at the organisation, which are not managerial but require high-level political agreement between key global decision-makers.

"Dr. Okonjo-Iweala appears to be well equipped for being the fair broker who could bring key players together and help them find the compromises that will be needed to resolve the WTO’s complex set of challenges and the deep disagreements between its members.”