US rejection throws WTO leadership race into confusion

GENEVA - The World Trade Organisation's bid to select a new leader was plunged into uncertainty on Wednesday after the United States rejected the Nigerian woman proposed as the global trade watchdog's next director-general.

The WTO itself has called a meeting for Nov 9, less than a week after the election, by which time it hopes to have secured full backing for Nigeria's Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala. "All of the delegations that expressed their views today expressed very strong support for the process, for the troika and for the outcome. Except for one," WTO spokesman Keith Rockwell told reporters after the closed-door meeting, specifying that the one was the United States.

Mr William Reinsch, a former senior Commerce Department official now with the Centre for Strategic and International Studies said the US move was likely to worsen trade tensions already running high within the WTO. It was not immediately clear if the outcome of the US vote would affect the US position on Ms Okonjo-Iweala's appointment.Many members, including China and the United States, had declined to name their preference publicly before Wednesday although some African, Caribbean and other states had voiced support for Ms Okonjo-Iweala during the four-month selection process. The European Union endorsed her on Oct 26.

Singapore Latest News, Singapore Headlines

Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.

US ITC delays decision on LG Chem, SK Innovation trade secret caseThe United States International Trade Commission (ITC) on Monday delayed a decision in a trade secrets case involving South Korean battery makers ...
Source: ChannelNewsAsia - 🏆 6. / 66 Read more »

Record US third-quarter growth assured as goods trade deficit falls, inventories riseThe United States' trade deficit in goods narrowed sharply in September and inventories at retailers surged, sealing expectations for record ...
Source: ChannelNewsAsia - 🏆 6. / 66 Read more »

EU arms itself against US and others in trade disputesThe European Union will arm itself with potential punitive tariffs against the United States and other rivals if they take advantage of World ...
Source: ChannelNewsAsia - 🏆 6. / 66 Read more »

US announces US$2.4 billion sale of coastal defence systems to TaiwanThe United States on Monday announced it had approved a $2.4 billion sale of 100 Harpoon coastal defence systems to Taiwan, a move sure to anger ...
Source: ChannelNewsAsia - 🏆 6. / 66 Read more »

US announces US$2.4 billion sale of coastal defence systems to TaiwanThe United States on Monday announced it had approved a $2.4 billion sale of 100 Harpoon coastal defence systems to Taiwan, a move sure to anger ...
Source: ChannelNewsAsia - 🏆 6. / 66 Read more »

US stock market braces for rocky week ahead of contentious US electionWall Street faces a rocky run-up to Election Day, with mounting worries about the outcome in Washington adding to nerves about the coronavirus ...
Source: ChannelNewsAsia - 🏆 6. / 66 Read more »