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GENEVA, Feb 9 (Reuters) - The World Trade Organization said
on Tuesday that its top decision-making body, the General
Council, will meet on February 15 to decide on the next
director-general.
Nigeria's Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala is widely expected to be
chosen to fill a months-long leadership void at the global trade
watchdog after Washington reversed its opposition last week. If
confirmed by consensus, she will be the first woman and the
first African to head it. The 164-member body has been without a leader since Brazil's
Roberto Azevedo left a year early in August. Supporters hope she
can reinvigorate the institution, which is facing the biggest
crisis in its 26-year-history, with members unable to agree on
trade deals and a reform programme.
The U.S. administration of Donald Trump had criticised the
WTO and paralysed some of its functions, including those of its
top appeals body, which rules on trade disputes.