The Federal Government has expressed confidence that Mrs. Ngozi Okojo-Iweala will eventually be confirmed as World Trade Organisation (WTO) Director-General, despite the United States (U.S.) opposition.
Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Princess Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire in a message congratulated Dr. Okonjo-Iweala over her impending emergence as head of the global trade organisation.
Mrs. Orelope-Adfulire was optimistic that Okonjo-Iweala’s emergence would help improve Africa’s trade position with the rest of the world.
The presidential aide noted that as an expert on the use of trade, economics and governance as tools of development, Mrs. Okonjo-Iweala as WTO D-G “will be in a position to help in the actualisation of 2030 agenda of leaving no one behind”, leveraging her new office.
Checkout Magazine learnt that Okonjo-Iweala’s emergence as DG faces a stumbling block as a result of opposition from the United States, despite her securing overwhelming backing of the body’s 164 members.
Deputy U.S. Trade Representative Dennis Shea, during a meeting of WTO delegates in Geneva, said the U.S. could not support a consensus decision to appoint Mrs. Okonjo-Iweala, according to three officials who monitored the proceedings.
If the United States maintains its opposition to Mrs. Okonjo-Iweala, the WTO’s Constitution provides for a vote, although every previous director-general in the organisation’s 25-year history has been appointed by consensus and trade experts said life would be difficult if an appointment was made against the wishes of the US, according to the Nation.
