WTO Leader Search Begins With U.S., EU Aiming to Move Quickly

The U.S. and European Union signaled they want to move rapidly to replace the head of the World Trade Organization after Director-General Roberto Azevedo unexpectedly announced plans to step down Aug. 31, a year before his term expires.

“It is essential that we quickly chart a new path ahead at this critical and uncertain time for trade,” EU Trade Commissioner Phil Hogan said in a statement after Azevedo’s announcement on Thursday.

U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer, in a statement released Thursday, praised Azevedo despite the organization’s “many shortcomings” and said the Trump administration looks forward to participating in the search process “in the coming months.”

Azevedo, a 62-year-old Brazilian, announced the decision to WTO delegates on Thursday. He has served as its director-general since September 2013 and his second four-year term began in September 2017.

Search Process

The WTO’s general council meets Friday in a closed session to begin talks on the search process.

Azevedo said he didn’t want to serve out his full term because a leadership transition in mid-2021 would’ve interfered with the WTO’s next ministerial conference.

Now, the contest to replace him will give the U.S. and China another arena in their battle for economic hegemony by expanding their influence at the top levels of international organizations.

Currently, Chinese nationals lead three UN agencies—the International Telecommunication Union, the Food and Agriculture Organization and the International Civil Aviation Organization.

The Trump administration has increasingly sought to counter China’s international diplomacy campaign.

Last month, the U.S. successfully displaced a Chinese candidate who was vying to become next director-general of the World Intellectual Property Organization. Members of the Geneva-based organization ultimately selected Daren Tang, a more western-friendly candidate from Singapore.