The final agreement to choosing a new director of the World Trade Organisation, WTO, has suffered a set back.
The selection committee of the organisation led by David Walker, announced Friday the postponement of the meeting slated for November 9, to picking a replacement of the former chief of WTO, Roberto Azevedo, who in August stepped down as director-general a year ahead of schedule.
Azevedo announced, “It has come to my attention that for reasons including the health situation and current events, delegations will not be in a position to take a formal decision on November 9. I am therefore postponing this meeting until further notice during which period I will continue to undertake consultations with delegations.”
To take the helm of the organisation, either South Korean Trade Minister Yoo Myung-hee, or Nigeria’s finance and foreign minister, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, would gain the needed consensus.
After gradually cutting down the initial list of eight candidates, Okonjo-Iweala has the support of the EU; albeit the United States announced it was intent on backing the South Korean Trade Minister instead.
The US announcement has plunged the WTO leadership hunt into uncertainty.
Mazi Ozoemela Chikwas reporting, Obinwannem News
