Okonjo-Iweala: WTO postpones meeting to pick new DG

The World Trade Organisation (WTO) says it has postponed the selection process of a new director-general.

According to a notice released on Friday, David Walker, the chair of the general council, told members that the November 9 meeting scheduled to consider the appointment of the next DG has been postponed.

“The general council meeting scheduled for November 9 to consider the appointment of the next WTO director-general has been postponed,” the notice read.

“Ambassador David Walker, the chair of the General Council, informed members of the decision on November 6.

“Walker said the meeting would be postponed until further notice, during which time he would continue undertaking consultations with delegations.”

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Nigeria’s candidate in the WTO DG process, had been set to be named the next the director-general of the World Trade Organisation (WTO).

However, the United States opposed her candidature.

Okonjo-Iweala had got the support of 110 out of 164 member countries, including Japan, AU, EU, the Caribbean, and a majority in Latin America.

The panel of three set up to decide who becomes the next WTO DG had picked the former Nigerian minister as the one with the best chance of getting a consensus.

The US said it favoured South Korea’s Yoo Myung-hee over Okonjo-Iweala because the WTO needs someone with real, hands-on experience in the field