The Office of the United States Trade Representative, in a written statement today, "strongly backed the candidacy of Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala as Director-General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), clearing the path for the first woman and first African to lead the 26-year-old Organisation.

It will be recalled that earlier today, the South Korea's candidate for the Director-General post of the WTO, Yoo Myung-Hee announced she was withdrawing from the race.

Office of the United States Trade Statement on the Director General of the World Trade Organization

The United States takes note of today’s decision by the Republic of Korea’s Trade Minister Yoo Myung-hee to withdraw her candidacy for Director General of the World Trade Organization (WTO).

The Biden-Harris Administration is pleased to express its strong support for the candidacy of Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala as the next Director General of the WTO. Dr. Okonjo-Iweala brings a wealth of knowledge in economics and international diplomacy from her 25 years with the World Bank and two terms as Nigerian Finance Minister. She is widely respected for her effective leadership and has proven experience managing a large international organization with a diverse membership.

The Biden-Harris Administration also congratulates Minister Yoo Myung-hee on her strong campaign for this position. She is a trailblazer as the Republic of Korea’s first female trade minister and the first candidate from Korea to advance this far in the Director General selection process. The United States respects her decision to withdraw her candidacy from the Director General race to help facilitate a consensus decision at the WTO.

It is particularly important to underscore that two highly qualified women made it to the final round of consideration for the position of WTO Director General -- the first time that any woman has made it to this stage in the history of the institution.

The United States stands ready to engage in the next phase of the WTO process for reaching a consensus decision on the WTO Director General. The Biden-Harris Administration looks forward to working with a new WTO Director General to find paths forward to achieve necessary substantive and procedural reform of the WTO.

SOURCE

The WTO-DG selection process commenced in July 2020 following the untimely resignation of Brazilian Robert Azevedo, a year before the expiration of his tenure.

Eight candidates had gone through several screening processes culminating in its consideration for the final two pick: Myung-Hee and Okonjo-Iweala.

Okonjo-Iweala had based her campaign on rebuilding trust, hunting for solutions and strengthening the multi-lateral trading system of the WTO.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aJAUUT0l0I8

No fewer than 100 of its 164 member countries backed Nigeria's former Finance Minister.

However, the Trump administration, had favoured Yoo, complicating the decision-making process since the selection of a new leader requires all WTO members to agree.

Reports of the Korean's seeming withdrawal first came up in November 2020 after Trump's election loss, until it was confirmed today.

With the U.S. been the only WTO member blocking Okonjo-Iweala's candidacy having endorsed her, the Chairman of the WTO General Council, David Walker, can announce the resumption of the WTO's suspended October General Council meeting to consider the appointment of a new Director-General. This is expected to happen in a number of days.

NOI, as she is fondly called did respond to the US endorsement, thanking Nigerians, President Buhari and her opponent Yoo.

Grateful for the expression of support from the US today for DG @WTO. Congratulations to Madam Yoo of Rep. Korea for a hard fought campaign.Thank You President Muhammadu Buhari @MBuhari & all Nigerians for your unflinching support.Thank you friends. Love to my family. Glory to God.

[url=https://twitter.com/NOIweala/status/1357809632820023297?s=19]Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala [url]

Ojebego!!

In the west, nothing like quota. They filter out the best of the best

O set ti go.Up climbs the Amazon of Nigeria's financial industry as DG-WTO.NOI is just a star in her own class. Where is the former NSE DG-Ndidi Onyuike.
Where also is madam Kemi Adeosun?

Congratzzz Okonjo Iwealla

Is Okonjo Iweala also from Benin like General Irabor ?

,

blamingthedevil:
Is Okonjo Iweala also from Benin like General Irabor ?

Nope! Both of them are from Delta State

Racoon:
Delta State

Irabor is from Anioma , Delta State, but Ndigbo rejected him

Only in America!

Is over...

Ride on Dr Iweala

blamingthedevil:
Irabor is from Anioma , Delta State, but Ndigbo rejected him

We have heard you, Yoruba man.
Write something else or face the topic.
How old are you?
Roughly below 20 I guess?

blamingthedevil:
Is Okonjo Iweala also from Benin like General Irabor ?

She is from Delta state however she has ties with the igbos.

The Future is truly African and Feminine.

They'll soon come for my head. Japa.

edoairways:
She is from Delta state however she has ties with the igbos.

Delta is not an ethnic group but a state.... politically
Igbo is an ethnic group and not a state...
Therefore she is of Igbo extraction in Delta state.

Great!


Congrats to you ma'am

A new dawn! Congrats ma'am!!

God bless Nigerians......Thank you all.

It has been a bumpy ride but well worth it.

Racoon:
Nope! Both of them are from Delta State

Okonjo is married to Abia, she and her dad were in biafra all through the war , she worked and cooked for refugees and her dad was a staff in biafra service

Shame go they catch Trump now, a very foolish and egoistic man

Donald thrump be wan spoil show for madam NOI
Nice one from President Biden

Igbos did not support her......shame.

Iron lady.. Meek and humble but powerful in her achievements! Iweala slowly turning into the greatest African woman of her era..., Only followed closely by Adichie..

Congratulations to Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala. She is a trailblazer and I’m happy for her.

Kudos to president Buhari for his effort to see her win the contest. This is a victory for Nigeria, Africa and women all over the world.

Special thanks to President Joe Biden for his support. Shame on the orange racist called Donald Trump and all his narcissistic supporters. Hopefully, such a divisive character will never rise to any position of prominence in the world again.

blamingthedevil:

Irabor is from Anioma , Delta State, but Ndigbo rejected him

Her husband is from Abia

Osagyefo98:


Delta is not an ethnic group but a state.... politically

Igbo is an ethnic group and not a state...

Therefore she is of Igbo extraction in Delta state.

Let me explain further for clarity. He choose to identify with the igbos hence they see her as their sister.

Congratulations to Madam Ngozi

The APC Government did this possible.

No doubt Ngosi is good for the job but we must also accept the influence Nigeria government is playing underground. The underground campaign no one hears about.

We are getting there. I hope Ngosi makes policies that will benefit the black race and the entire world . I hope Ngosi makes us proud as a nation, her impact felt across all region of Nigeria and the black race and the world entirely. Congratulations ma

edoairways:

Let me explain further for clarity. He choose to identify with the igbos hence they see her as their sister.

Let me clarify even further. She's Igbo from Delta State just as Nnamdi Kanu is Igbo from Abia State and Rochas is Igbo from Imo State. Her native Igbo name is Ngozi which means blessing.
So she's proudly Igbo no matter what you say.

edoairways:

Let me explain further for clarity. He choose to identify with the igbos hence they see her as their sister.

What a clarity.

Education is a compound waste in Nigeria.

Who will she Identify with before if I may ask?

Osagyefo98:



What a clarity.

Education is a compound waste in Nigeria.

Who will she Identify with before if I may ask?

Is she igbo to start Mr know it all? Enuani is their tribe not igbo