The Biden administration announced on Friday that it would support the candidacy of Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, a former Nigerian finance minister, to lead the World Trade Organization, ending a months-long standoff at the organization.
The announcement came after South Korea’s trade minister Yoo Myung-hee withdrew her candidacy, clearing the way for Okonjo-Iweala to be director-general of the Geneva-based body.
“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,” Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) said in a statement.
The global trade watchdog has been without a head since the previous WTO director-general, Roberto Azevedo of Brazil, quit the job in August last year.
Okonjo-Iweala was the consensus choice by the member states but the Trump administration refused to back her due to her lack of trade experience.
In an interview with the Financial Times on Jan. 19, then-U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer warned it would be “a mistake” to appoint Okonjo-Iweala to lead the organization.
“We need a person who actually knows trade, not somebody from the World Bank who does development,” Lighthizer said.
Okonjo-Iweala spent 25 years with the World Bank and two terms as Nigerian Finance Minister, according to the USTR.
“We need a trade person with real trade experience,” Lighthizer said. “And there are very few areas where you would say, ‘here’s an organization in very bad shape, let’s get someone who knows nothing about its core mission.’”
The Trump administration supported Yoo’s candidacy for the job, calling her a “bona fide trade expert.”
“In order to promote the functions of WTO and in consideration of various factors, I have decided to withdraw my candidacy,” Yoo said in a statement on Friday.
Yoo, after receiving the backing of the Trump administration, had refused to withdraw from the race despite mounting diplomatic pressure to bow out.
“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 USTR’s statement said.
Meanwhile, Okonjo-Iweala, has expressed appreciation to the United States, President Muhammadu Buhari and Nigerians for the support she has enjoyed thus far in her bid to become director general of the World Trade Organisation (WTO).
Mrs Okonjo-Iweala took to her Twitter handle to show gratitude shortly after she was endorsed for the top job by the U.S. government Friday night.
Since last year, President Buhari had been at the vanguard of the campaign for the emergence of Mrs Okonjo-Iweala as the world trade body’s DG.
“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,” she tweeted.
“Thank You President Muhammadu Buhari @MBuhari &all Nigerians for your unflinching support.Thank you friends. Love to my family. Glory to God.”
The United States government announced its endorsement of Mrs Okonjo-Iweala in a statement by its office of trade representative on Friday.
“The Biden-Harris Administration also congratulates Minister Yoo Myung-hee on her strong campaign for this position,” the statement said.
“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.”
Indications emerged earlier on Friday that Mrs Okonjo-Iweala, a former finance minister and World Bank executive, would likely clinch the coveted post after her final challenger for the position, South Korean Trade Minister and candidate, Yoo Myung-hee, announced her withdrawal.
Ms Yoo made the decision after discussions with the U.S. and other major nations, a statement from Korea’s trade ministry said on Friday.
She also took various issues into account “comprehensively” including the need to revitalise the multilateral organisation, reports said Friday.
