'Final Push?' US State Department Orders Overseas Missions to Gauge Support for Yoo Myung-hee

Politico Report... "A Very Clear Signal That the U.S. Supports Yoom Young-hee"
"Subtly Encourage Undecided Countries" Message Also
Outcome Uncertain... One Day After State Department Directive, EU 27 Countries Cast Votes for Nigerian Candidate

▲ Yoo Myung-hee, Chief Trade Negotiator of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy of Korea (left), and Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, former Nigerian Minister of Finance and Foreign Affairs (right), who advanced to the final runoff in the World Trade Organization (WTO) Director-General election [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kwon Jae-hee] The U.S. Department of State reportedly instructed its overseas missions to ascertain whether host country governments support Yoo Myung-hee, the head of the Trade Negotiations Division at the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, in the World Trade Organization (WTO) Director-General election.

According to the U.S. political media outlet Politico on the 27th (local time), the State Department sent diplomatic cables to some overseas missions on the 25th with this directive. Politico analyzed this as a very clear signal that the U.S. supports Yoo Myung-hee.

The diplomatic cables sent by the State Department reportedly included instructions to subtly and gently encourage host governments to support Yoo Myung-hee if they have not yet made a decision. However, such cables were not sent to missions in countries that had clearly announced their preferred candidate.

A U.S. trade official told Politico, "I heard that Robert Lighthizer, U.S. Trade Representative (USTR), and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo coordinated on this matter."

Major economic countries such as India and Brazil have not yet publicly disclosed their preferred candidates.

However, Politico reported that U.S. support does not guarantee the outcome of this Director-General election. Although China and Japan have not publicly announced their preferences, they are reportedly leaning toward the Nigerian candidate.

The European Union (EU) also held a special meeting on the 26th and decided that its 27 member states would support Nigeria's Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala. Considering the timing, the EU's decision came a day after the U.S. instructed its overseas missions. With all 27 EU countries casting their votes for Okonjo-Iweala, analysts suggest that Yoo Myung-hee is somewhat at a disadvantage.

A former U.S. trade official said, "If Okonjo-Iweala is selected as Director-General, the phones at the U.S. State Department and the White House will be ringing nonstop to request that they do not oppose her," adding, "The Nigerian president will probably call the U.S. as well."

The WTO concluded its preference survey for the next Director-General, conducted among its 164 member countries since the 19th, on this day. A delegation meeting is scheduled for the 28th.