A Woman Will Lead The World Trade Organization For The First Time
For the first time, a woman will lead the World Trade Organization (WTO). South Korean Trade Minister Yoo Myung-hee and Nigerian economist and former Finance Minister Ngozi Okonjo-Iweal advanced to the final round of selection.
A Woman Will Lead The World Trade Organization For The First Time
For the first time, a woman will lead the World Trade Organization (WTO).South Korean Trade Minister Yoo Myung-hee and Nigerian economist and former Finance Minister Ngozi Okonjo-Iweal advanced to the final round of selection.A new boss will eventually be selected, with 164 Member States previously narrowing down the list of potential candidates out of five.Whatever one of them takes the lead, it will be in a very difficult position as the WTO faces the worst crisis in its 25-year history.The US, which has trade disputes with both China and the European Union (EU), questions the trade rules in force. The main problem is that since mid-December last year, Washington has failed the Court of Appeal, the WTO appellate body.
The United States has blocked the election of judges. In total, the seven-member body now has only one vacancy, and it needs to have at least three judges to decide.
Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has been a favorite since the search for a new WTO chief. She is a former Nigerian Minister of Finance and has a 25-year career with the World Bank (WB).
Yoo Myung-hee has been involved in multilateral trade issues since 1995, when he was in charge of the WTO agenda within the South Korean Ministry of Trade. He has experience negotiating with some of the biggest players in global trade, including the US, China and the EU.