Kyodo News Agency reported on the 11th that the World Trade Organization (WTO) recently informed member states that the election of the next Director-General will not be the subject at the meeting of the General Council on the 16th and 17. It is a foregone conclusion to be reached next year. The vacancy of the top leader of the WTO will last for nearly half a year.
According to relevant sources, the main reason is that the Trump administration opposes the election of Nigerian candidates supported by many member states, which has not changed. The WTO will convene a General Council meeting after President-designate Biden takes office on January 20 next year to try to elect the Director-General.
In late October this year, the WTO recommended Okongjo Iveala, the former Finance Minister of Nigeria, supported by Japan, China, the European Union and others, as the next Director-General.
However, the United States objected and expressed support for South Korea’s Ministry of Industry, Trade and Resources, which was retained in the final selection stage, and negotiated with Minister Yu Mingxi. Yu Mingxi also did not show his intention to withdraw from the Director-General election. The matter is deadlocked.
