WTO: Korean Candidate Withdraws

Nigeria’s Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has been left as the sole candidate for the position of Director-General of World Trade Organisation (WTO).

This follows the decision of South Korea’s candidate, Yoo Myung-Hee to withdraw from the race.

Recall that the World Trade Organization’s General Council Chair David Walker announced in October last year that Nigeria’s Okonjo-Iweala had garnered the most support among WTO members to become the next global trade chief, but was vetoed by the United States.

Yoo Myung-hee’s decision to withdraw from the race was communicated on Thursday morning through the official Twitter account of Korea’s Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy.

With the coast now clear, Okonjo-Iweala, will be the first female and first African to head the WTO after the affirmation by 164 members.

Meanwhile, last month, former US officials wrote President Joe Biden, urging him to support the candidature of Okonjo-Iweala who was blocked by the Trump administration.