US: 4 Reasons Why We Oppose Okonjo-iweala’s Election As WTO DG
See WTO Contest :Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala Takes Up American Citizenship
US: 4 Reasons Why We Oppose Okonjo-iweala’s Election As WTO DG: “The United States has explained why it is against the election of Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala as the next director-general of the World Trade Organisation (WTO).
In a statement issued by the office of the US trade representative on Wednesday, the world power said the WTO is in dire need of reform and must be “led by someone with real, hands-on experience in the field”
Also see Okonjo-Iweala Emerges World Trade Organisation’s Director General
- “The United States supports the selection of Korean Trade Minister Yoo Myung-hee as the next WTO Director-General,”
- “Minister Yoo is a bona fide trade expert who has distinguished herself during a 25-year career as a successful trade negotiator and trade policy maker. She has all the skills necessary to be an effective leader of the organization.
- “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 fulfill basic transparency obligations.
- “The WTO is badly in need of major reform. It must be led by someone with real, hands-on experience in the field.”
In Response; Okonjo-Iweala Says -I’m A Trade Expert (refutes US claim)
Madam Ngozi wan the over 70% of the votes cast but the United State of America Vetoe it, citing reform as one of the requirments of being selected as the DG of World Trade Organistion
According to the US NOI cannot engineer any major reform in WTO- an outrage that spike the interest of global membership with WTO
Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala fires back
- “I am a development economist and you cannot do that without looking at trade. Trade is a central part of development.
- My whole career at the World Bank, I was working on trade policy reform in middle and low-income countries at the bank,”
- “As finance minister, the customs service in my country reported to me. And that is all about trade facilitation.
- I helped my country’s negotiation with my trade minister on the ECOWAS common external tariffs. I don’t know how much more trade you can have than that.
- “So those who say I don’t have trade, they are mistaken. I think the qualities I have are even better, because I combine development economics with trade knowledge, along with finance, and you need those combination of skills to lead the WTO. I think I have the skills that are needed. I am a trade person.”
Source: https://www.thecable.ng/us-why-we-oppose-okonjo-iwealas-election-as-wto-dg/amp