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Mexico's candidate for WTO chief post urges hasty vetting of next leader amid 'deep crisis'

Published 15/07/2020, 14:38
Mexico's candidate for WTO chief post urges hasty vetting of next leader amid 'deep crisis'

By Emma Farge
GENEVA, July 15 (Reuters) - Mexico's candidate to head the
World Trade Organization urged members to quickly decide who
will lead the Geneva-based organization and address a "deep
crisis" as it began its process of vetting candidates on
Wednesday.
Nominations for candidates from eight countries have been
submitted, and include three women, three African candidates and
a former Saudi air force pilot, to replace Brazil's Roberto
Azevedo, who will step down a year early at the end of August.
"This needs to be done as quick as possible," said Jesus
Seade, a senior trade official in Mexico's government,
describing the trade watchdog as being in "deep crisis."
Seade also referred to a suggestion that a final decision on
the next chief should be delayed until after the U.S.
presidential election in November and rebuffed the idea.
Under U.S. President Donald Trump, Washington has urged
reform of the WTO, and blocked appointments to its top court.
However, Seade said he thought criticism of the body was shared
across the political spectrum in Washington.
"Precisely for that reason I think the election should not
create an obsession to make a decision before and after - we
should make that decision as soon as possible," he added, saying
the body needs to address reform and prepared for a delayed
biennial conference in 2021.
This phase of the race kicks off two months of campaigning
followed by a final decision by consensus. The new chief will
have to steer the body through intensifying global trade
tensions and rising protectionism.
Candidates from Nigeria and Egypt will present to WTO
members and the press later on Wednesday. For a full list of
candidates, see here:

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