WTO postpones meeting to pick new DG indefinitely

The General Council meeting of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) expected to hold on November 9 to pick a new director general of the organisation has been postponed until further notice.

Chairman of the council, Ambassador David Walker, told the 164-member council, according to a statement on its website on Friday.

The council had initially planned to meet on November 9 to pick the new DG between former Nigeria’s Finance Minister, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, and Yoo Myung-hee.

Many of the ambassadors of the world body as well as African and European countries have declared their support for Dr Okonjo-Iweala but the United States kicked against her emergence, rooting for Yoo Myung-hee.

“The General Council meeting scheduled for 9 November to consider the appointment of the next WTO director-general has been postponed. Ambassador David Walker, the chair of the General Council, informed members of the decision on 6 November.

“Ambassador Walker said the meeting would be postponed until further notice, during which time he would continue undertaking consultations with delegations,” the WTO statement said.