Daily Multilateralism
Wednesday, November 25, 2020
African Union in the Lead? As conflict in the Tigray region of Ethiopia intensifies, a group of three African Union envoys are reportedly traveling to the country for talks. Reuters reports:
Three [AU] envoys - ex-presidents Joaquim Chissano of Mozambique, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf of Liberia and Kgalema Motlanthe of South Africa - were due into Ethiopia’s capital Addis Ababa on Wednesday, diplomatic sources said.
The United Nations Security Council canceled a meeting that had been scheduled to discuss the conflict, apparently to allow the AU envoys more time to work. Via Agence France Presse:
South Africa, Niger, Tunisia and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines withdrew their request for the behind-closed-doors discussion because envoys have not yet travelled to Ethiopia, said one African diplomat.
“It is necessary to allow more time for the regional efforts that are being undertaken in this regard.”
Meanwhile, the United Nations human rights chief, Michele Bachelet, expressed alarm at reports of civilian deaths and limited communications from the region.
The “1+6” roundtable—a meeting of China’s leaders with the leadership of six major multilateral organizations—took place virtually this week. The practice of holding these sessions began in 2016. International organizations that participated include the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, the World Trade Organization, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, and the International Labor Organization. During the session, World Bank president David Malpass noted the evolution of China’s relationship with the Bank, as it has transitioned away from being a significant borrower. “The amount of lending itself is less important - the broader engagement and the close relationship is what is most valuable for us both.”
President-elect Joe Biden has unveiled picks for most top foreign policy positions, but he has not yet announced a choice for U.S. Trade Representative. Whomever he selects will have face one of the administration’s trickiest multilateral rescue missions—resuscitating the World Trade Organization (and its dispute resolution mechanism, in particular). Politico reports on one candidate for the post:
Katherine Tai, the chief trade lawyer for the House Ways and Means Committee, is gaining support from a bipartisan group of lawmakers in Congress to be the next U.S. trade representative, officials with direct knowledge of conversations told POLITICO.
Multiple members of Congress, including members of both parties in the Senate, have suggested Tai as the potential leader of USTR in conversations with the President-elect Joe Biden's transition team, say four officials on Capitol Hill and another veteran trade lawyer.
Also reportedly in the mix for the post is former Chicago mayor and White House chief of staff Rahm Emanuel.
The president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, predicted that the bloc might see its first coronavirus vaccinations before Christmas:
The commission, the EU’s executive arm, has agreements with six potential vaccine suppliers and is working on a seventh contract. The deals allow it to purchase over 800 million doses, more than the population of the bloc, which stands at around 460 million people.
Briefly noted:
Afghanistan’s president, Ashraf Ghani, urged a conference of donor countries not to abandon financial support for his country.
Eleventh-hour envoy: President Trump appoints a representative to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
The head of the United Nations assistance mission in Iraq, Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, briefed the UN Security Council. She discussed the scheduled June 2021 elections and the pandemic’s impact on the Iraqi economy.