Japan Cabinet Secretariat: "WTO Director-General Support Candidate Not Disclosed for Diplomatic Reasons"

No Denial of Support Coverage for Nigerian Candidate

[Image source=EPA Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeong Hyunjin] Kato Katsunobu, Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary, stated that the candidate supported in the World Trade Organization (WTO) Director-General election will not be disclosed for diplomatic reasons.

According to Sankei Shimbun on the 26th, at a regular briefing that morning, Secretary Kato responded to reports that Japan plans to support the Nigerian candidate in the WTO Director-General election by saying, "I believe that countries do not disclose their voting stance in international organization elections for diplomatic reasons."

When asked whether he was concerned that if the Korean candidate were elected, it might affect the fairness of the dispute resolution process in relation to South Korea's complaint against Japan's export restrictions at the WTO, Kato said, "I would like to avoid hypothetical questions or answering based on such premises."

Secretary Kato also expressed only a general position, stating, "I hope that a candidate with qualities such as the ability to coordinate understanding among major countries and the capability to actively contribute to the maintenance and strengthening of the multilateral trade system will be selected."

Earlier, Kyodo News reported citing multiple Japanese government officials that the Japanese government has decided to support Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala from Nigeria, rather than Yoo Myung-hee, head of South Korea's Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy's Trade Negotiations Division, in the WTO Director-General election.