By Aiyeku Timothy
South Korean Trade Minister, Yoo Myung-hee, on Friday made the decision to withdraw from the race to lead the WTO, which clears the way Nigeria’s Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala as the only remaining candidate for the job.
Yoo made the decision after holding talks with the US and other countries and took various issues into account “comprehensively”, including the need to revitalize the multilateral organization.
Meanwhile, US president, Joe Biden, has been asked to give his nod to the Nigerian former Finance Minister for the World Trade Organization (WTO) top job.
Some former US government officials have urged Biden to endorse Okonjo-Iweala, after the Trump administration blocked her selection.
Former President Donald Trump had opposed Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, which halted the selection process because WTO decisions are made on the basis of a consensus of its members.
She is now set to become the first African and first female director-general in the 25-year history of the WTO.
She currently serves on Twitter’s board of directors, as a special envoy for the World Health Organisation’s COVID-19 fight.
