Geneva: Nine countries have presented candidates to succeed Pascal Lamy as head of the World Trade Organisation ahead of the deadline Monday.
The last candidate was Roberto Azevedo, Brazil’s envoy to the WTO, whose name was put forth on Friday. He has been with the world’s trade oversight body since 2008.
Mexico has nominated Herminio Blanco Mendoza, an economist and former minister who led that country’s negotiations on the North American Free Trade Agreement.
Mendoza also led Mexico’s participation in the Uruguay round of talks that preceded the creation of the WTO in 1995.
Costa Rica proposes that its foreign trade minister, Anabel Gonzalez, is the best candidate for the job.
South Korea and New Zealand have also nominated their trade ministers, Taeho Bark and Tim Groser, respectively.
From Jordan, the name of ex-minister Ahmad Nindawi has been put forward, while Indonesia is going with Mari Pangestu, current tourism minister and also a former trade minister.
The race kicked off on December 17 when Ghana nominated its former trade minister Alan John Kwadwo Kyerematen, while Kenya has since suggested that its WTO ambassador Amina Mohamed be given the job.
The WTO’s 158 member countries had until Monday to nominate candidates for the prestigious position, and the UN trade body is to make its decision known by May 31.
When Lamy, who is French, was first chosen in 2005, three other candidates from Brazil, Mauritius and Uruguay also threw their hats in the ring, but the Frenchman was unopposed to succeed himself in 2009.
As his second term drew to a close, developing countries said it was time that one of their own get another chance as WTO director general. Supachai Panitchpakdi of Thailand preceded Lamy in the post, serving one term.
The WTO’s General Council is mandated with selecting the director general by consensus, and candidates that stand little chance of being selected are expected to withdraw on their own.
The next WTO head will be charged with trying to wrap up the so-called Doha Round of trade talks, which were launched in 2001 but have since encountered obstacles set in particular by China, the European Union, India and the United States.
Dear TNT Reader,
At The News Tribe, our mission is to bring you free, independent, and unbiased news and content that keeps you informed and empowered. We are committed to upholding the highest standards of journalism, as we understand that we are a platform for truth.
Apart from independent global news coverage, we also commit our unique focus on the Muslim world. In an age marked by the troubling rise of Islamophobia and widespread misrepresentation of Muslims in Western media, we strive to provide accurate and fair coverage.
But to continue doing so, we need your support. Even a small donation of 1$ can make a big difference. Your contribution will help us maintain the quality of our news and counteract the negative narratives that are so prevalent.
Please consider donating today to ensure we can keep delivering the news that matters. Together, we can make a positive impact on the world, and work towards a more inclusive, informed global society.
Donate Monthly Subscription Annual Subscription