Washington has confirmed its eagerness to work with the new Director-General of the World Trade Organization, Nigerian Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.
In comments sent by the U.S. diplomatic mission in Geneva to Reuters, David Bisbee, the U.S. representative to the World Trade Organization, stated that the country is committed to working closely with Director-General Okonjo-Iweala, and she can count on the United States to be a constructive partner. Bisbee added that Okonjo-Iweala’s knowledge and experience in economics, trade, and diplomacy will help advance efforts to reform the organization and promote equitable economic growth through trade, while addressing current and future global challenges.
The Biden administration had announced its strong support on February 6 for Nigerian candidate Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala as the Director-General of the World Trade Organization. During the presidency of Donald Trump, the United States was the only country to block the consensus decision to support Okonjo-Iweala, endorsing her competitor, South Korean Trade Minister Yoo Myung-hee, who withdrew her candidacy for the position on February 5.
