through to the final round of selection to become the next
director-general of the World Trade Organization, three sources said on
Wednesday.
The reduction of the field from five to two means, if confirmed, that
the 25-year-old, Geneva-based trade body would be led by a woman for the
first time.
Okonjo-Iweala, 66, former Nigerian finance and foreign minister
Okonjo-Iweala, is an economist and development specialist now serving as
board chair of global vaccine alliance Gavi. She has said the WTO should
play a role in helping poorer countries access COVID-19 drugs and
vaccines.
Yoo, 53, South Korea’s trade minister, is pitching herself as an
experienced operator on trade-in challenging times after clinching deals
with the United States, China, and others while supporting global rules.
Both received backing from the 27 countries of the European Union this
week. The other countries of the 164-member WTO have generally not
revealed which names they put forward in the second round that ran from
Sept. 24 to Oct. 6.
Kenyan sports minister Amina Mohamed, Saudi royal court adviser Mohammad
Al-Tuwaijri and British ex-international trade minister Liam Fox also
competed in the second selection round. The first round featured eight
candidates.
The WTO is looking for a new director-general to replace Brazilian
Roberto Azevedo, who stepped down a year earlier than expected at the
end of August. It aims to find a successor by early November.
The winning candidate will face formidable challenges with rising global
tensions and protectionism during a COVID-induced slowdown, most
obviously between China and President Donald Trump’s U.S.
administration, as well as pressure to drive reforms.