Meeting to Choose WTO Leader Postponed Indefinitely

The World Trade Organization announced on Nov. 6 that a planned meeting for Nov. 9 to choose the next director-general for the organization will be postponed until further notice. “It has come to my attention that for reasons including the health situation and current events, delegations will not be in a position to take a formal decision on 9 November,” Ambassador David Walker, chair of the general council, said. The U.S. has opposed Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the candidate most likely to win consensus (see 2010280051), as the Office of U.S. Trade Representative says the WTO needs someone with trade experience. Okonjo-Iweala is an economist with experience at the World Bank and nonprofits, as well as government service (see 2010290030).