Forgot password?
Sign up today and your first download is free.
REGISTER
Plurilateral negotiations play an important role in the World Trade Organization, allowing members to move forward on important issues and keep the organization relevant and responsive, the U.S., European Union and others argued on Tuesday, defending plurilateral talks after India and South Africa raised concerns about their legal status at the WTO.
The push by many countries -- including the U.S. -- to conclude plurilateral agreements at the World Trade Organization is “legally inconsistent” with WTO rules and principles, India and South Africa argued in a new paper, insisting there is a “fundamental requirement for multilateralism” in Geneva.
Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala on Monday was officially appointed the new director-general of the World Trade Organization, pledging to tackle the pandemic, advance negotiations on curbing fisheries subsidies, move the needle on dispute settlement reform and lay the groundwork for a successful ministerial conference as her initial priorities.
Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala is set to make history on Monday as the World Trade Organization’s first African and first woman director-general, but the deep divides and significant crises facing the organization are likely to put her reformer reputation to the test from the start.
House Ways & Means Committee Chairman Richard Neal (D-MA) hopes U.S. trade agreements with the United Kingdom and Kenya will be concluded and sent to Capitol Hill for review this year, he said on Tuesday.
The Biden administration on Friday announced its “strong support” for Nigeria’s Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala as the World Trade Organization’s next director-general, ending the previous administration’s block and opening the door to her quick appointment.
Korean Trade Minister Yoo Myung-hee has taken herself out of the running for the World Trade Organization’s top job, removing one of the major hurdles to Nigeria’s Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala taking the reins of the leaderless organization.
President Biden’s move to maintain national security-based tariffs on the United Arab Emirates likely isn’t indicative of how Section 232 duties will be handled broadly, industry sources said this week, suggesting the administration could opt to negotiate exemptions with key countries.
President Biden on Monday revoked a last-minute Trump administration move to lift Section 232 tariffs on aluminum from the United Arab Emirates in favor of a quota system.
The group says she can be “relied on to pay due attention to the concerns many Americans have about global trade” and “has what it takes to lead WTO reforms.”
The move came in one of the final proclamations issued by President Trump.
A proclamation cites actions taken by the DRC’s government in recent years after President Obama removed the country from the program in 2010, citing human-rights concerns.
Negotiators from the U.S. and Kenya will wrap up the second round of trade talks on Nov. 12, according to the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative.
Senate Finance Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-IA) on Thursday backed the U.S.’ continued support of Korean Trade Minister Yoo Myung-hee to lead the World Trade Organization despite majority support for her rival.
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative defended its choice in World Trade Organization director-general candidate on Wednesday, arguing the organization “must” be led by someone with "hands-on" experience in trade and that person is Korean Trade Minister Yoo Myung-hee.
Nigeria’s Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala was named on Wednesday as the director-general candidate with the widest support, but her appointment remains in question after the U.S. told members it could not join the consensus for her to lead the WTO, according to a source in the room and other reports.
The World Trade Organization will announce its consensus director-general pick on Wednesday, with Nigeria’s Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala picking up momentum after winning European Union support this week.
Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala of Nigeria and Yoo Myung-hee of Korea are the two finalists for the World Trade Organization’s top job, the General Council chair announced on Thursday.
The next World Trade Organization director-general will be a woman, with Nigeria’s Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and Korea’s Yoo Myung-hee reportedly set to be announced on Thursday as the final two candidates to advance to the final round of vetting.