World Trade Organization Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has cleared a major hurdle in her bid to win a second term, but she still faces a potential obstacle from the United States after Donald Trump’s reelection as president.
No other candidate emerged to challenge Okonjo-Iweala for the position during a 30-day nomination period that closed at midnight on Friday in Geneva.
“At the end of the nomination period, the only candidacy received for this post is from Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the incumbent director-general,” WTO General Council Chair Petter Ølberg said in a note to WTO members Saturday.
That means the WTO General Council could approve her bid for a second term at its next meeting, which is tentatively scheduled for Dec. 16-17. But it remains possible that the United States or another member could object to her reappointment.
