European Union governments have agreed to support the Nigerian and South Korean candidates to lead the World Trade Organization as the race enters its final month.
EU member-country envoys agreed on Monday in Brussels to endorse Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Nigeria’s former finance minister, and Yoo Myung-hee, South Korea’s trade chief, in their bids to become WTO director-general, according to an official familiar with the matter.
Hungary swung behind the planned recommendation after being the only EU country to withhold support at a lower-level meeting last Friday of officials representing the 27-nation bloc, the person said on the condition of anonymity because the deliberations were confidential.
Five candidates are still in the running to lead the WTO. It plans to announce two finalists after Oct. 6 and name a winner by November 7.
Brazilian Roberto Azevedo stepped down from the job at the end of August, a year before his term ended.
The Geneva-based trade body faces headwinds from the coronavirus pandemic, the U.S.-China trade battle, a hobbled arbitration system and a lack of tools to tackle growing challenges such as industrial subsidies.
Latest Stories
- Individual bondholders to be exempted from debt exchange programme – Martin Kpebu
41 mins - Police arrest 4 suspects for robbery, murder at Wassa Agona
53 mins - Fire destroys 3 houses, five vehicles at Kwadaso
2 hours - Performance of changed minority leaders outstanding, reshuffle came as a surprise – Political Analyst
2 hours - Abubakar Malik Atampuri: A detailed analysis of why Dr. Kuganab-Lem lost the Binduri seat to the NPP
3 hours - Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp says Mohamed Salah is ‘suffering’ this season
4 hours - Auditor General’s Covid-19 report: ‘We need to see prosecution’ – Theo Acheampong
4 hours - Mrs Frances Ivy Anin nee Nana Akyere
4 hours - Supporting budget with 46% of Covid-19 funds not wrong – Sylvester Tetteh on Auditor-General’s report
4 hours - Samson’s Take: OSP officers fighting corruption on empty stomach?
4 hours - DWP Powerlist 2022: WhiteChalk CEO among 100 most sought after wedding planners, designers
4 hours - NDC impasse confirms long-held rivalry between Mahama and Haruna Iddrisu – Sylvester Tetteh
5 hours - Industry players should also commit to attainment of SDGs – AGI president
5 hours - We are in economic crisis because government misused Covid-19 funds – Kofi Adams
5 hours - ‘Exceptional guy’ Ake edges Man City past Arsenal in FA Cup
5 hours