WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Vice President Kamala Harris and the top of the World Commerce Group on Thursday agreed on the necessity to reform the world commerce physique and pledged to work collectively to spice up momentum within the world economic system , stated the White Home.

Harris, the primary Black and Asian U.S. Vice President and the primary lady to carry the submit, provided sturdy assist to Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the primary African lady and first to guide the Geneva-based group, throughout a cellphone name Thursday, the White Home stated. Okonjo-Iweala is a former Nigerian Minister of Finance.

“They’re dedicated to working collectively to deal with the financial and well being penalties of COVID-19 and local weather change, and to prioritize resilience within the world provide chain,” the White Home assertion stated.

The 2 leaders additionally agreed on the significance of leveraging commerce to advertise fairness and financial development, in addition to the position that bettering residing requirements, labor rights, human rights and the well-being of working households ought to play a task in coverage making.

“The vp underscored the USA’ precedence to spend money on well being and expertise as engines of development and to advance sustainable improvement,” he added.

The Senate is predicted to vote subsequent week to substantiate President Joe Biden’s candidate as chief commerce negotiator, longtime congresswoman Katherine Tai.

The Senate Finance Committee voted final week to advance Tai’s full Senate nomination on a voice vote, indicating no vital opposition.