Economics

U.S. Sows WTO Turmoil by Vetoing Front-Runner for Top Job

Okonjo-Iweala cleared a key hurdle but U.S. digs in behind Yoo
Selection of first female WTO chief faces chance of stalemate

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala twice served as Nigeria’s finance minister and is chair of the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization. — Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala twice served as Nigeria’s finance minister and is chair of the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization.
Photographer: Fabrice Coffrini/AFP via Getty Images

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By Bryce Baschuk

October 28, 2020 at 8:08 AM EDT

Updated on

October 28, 2020 at 5:08 PM EDT

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The World Trade Organization’s effort to select a leader and chart a new course for the global trading system hit a roadblock Wednesday after the Trump administration vetoed a bid by front-runner Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, who is a U.S. citizen, to be the WTO’s next director-general.