WTO: US Lists 5 ‘Strong’ Reasons For Backing South Korea’s Yoo Against Okonjo-Iweala

The United States has reaffirmed and stated its reasons for supporting South Korea’s nominee, Yoo Myung-hee to be the next head of the World Trade Organization (WTO), Brandnewsday reports.

Nigeria’s Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has been leading contender to become the next WTO Director-General as she had gained massive supports from different quarters.

Recall that the WTO nominations committee, Wednesday, endorsed Nigeria’s former Finance Minister, to its 164 member countries for appointment as the DG.

However, America has countered the decision of the panel who recommended Okonjo-Iweala. The world-power country reiterated that it is in support of Yoo to man the WTO affairs.

World Trade Organization-WTO: Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala

The 5 reasons the US gave are:

In a statement made available, the office of the US Trade Representative said:  “WTO must be led by someone with real, hands-on experience in the field”.

READ: WTO Welcomes Okonjo-Iweala’s Nomination As Director-General

The US Trade office advises President Donald Trump on trade policy.

The statement further reads: ”Yoo had distinguished herself” as a trade expert and “has all the skills necessary to be an effective leader of the organisation.

Yoo Myung-hee Twitter

“This is a very difficult time for the WTO and international trade”.

“There have been no multilateral tariff negotiations in 25 years, the dispute settlement system has gotten out of control, and too few members fulfil basic transparency obligations.

”The WTO is badly in need of major reform,” the statement added.

Meanwhile, the organization spokesman Keith Rockwell has confirmed that one member country did not support Okonjo-Iweala.