Japanese Government, "Will Not Support Korean Candidate for WTO Director-General"

There is an underlying judgment that selecting a Korean candidate would be disadvantageous to Japan

▲
Major candidates who applied for the position of Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO). From left to right: Hamid Mamdouh (Egypt), Amina Mohamed (Kenya), Muhammad Mazyad Altwaizri (Saudi Arabia), Yoo Myung-hee (Korea), Liam Fox (United Kingdom), Todor Ulianovski (Moldova), Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala (Nigeria), Jesus Seade (Mexico) [Image source=AP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kwon Jae-hee] On the 24th, Kyodo News reported that the Japanese government is coordinating to support an African candidate for the position of Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO).

Kyodo News cited an official from the Japanese Prime Minister's Office saying, "There is no possibility that Japan will support Yoo Myung-hee, the Korean head of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy's Trade Negotiations Headquarters."

The Japanese government's judgment is based on the view that if Yoo is elected as WTO Director-General, it would be disadvantageous to Japan. This is because last July, Japan imposed export restrictions on Korea, leading to a dispute between the two countries at the WTO, and if Yoo were to lead the WTO, it could be unfavorable to Japan.

The Japanese government is reportedly coordinating to support one of the candidates from Nigeria or Kenya among those running for WTO Director-General.

Besides Yoo Myung-hee, the candidates for WTO Director-General include Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, former Nigerian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Finance, and Amina Mohamed, former Kenyan Minister of Culture and former Chair of the WTO General Council, among a total of eight candidates.

Among them, the Japanese government judged that both Okonjo-Iweala and Mohamed are suitable candidates because they have served as ministers and have extensive international practical experience.

Kyodo News quoted a senior official from the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs as saying, "There is concern whether fairness and neutrality would be maintained if Yoo is elected."

Meanwhile, it is known that the Japanese government did not field a candidate for the WTO Director-General election because none of the ministers with experience are proficient in English.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.