WTO Director General to resign


05/14/2020

The Director General of the World Trade Organization (WTO), Roberto Azevêdo, told the governments of member countries that he plans to resign before the end of his term of office in 2021. It is reported by Bloomberg with reference to four people familiar with the situation.



World Trade Organization
The 62-year-old Brazilian has been the WTO Head since September 2013, his second four-year term began in September 2017. The representative of the WTO declined to comment. 

The stability of the WTO was dealt a severe blow last year, when the United States effectively paralyzed the organization’s dispute resolution system after blocking new appointments to a seven-member panel that was considering appeals. The WTO Appellate Body cannot currently adjudicate future cases starting December 11th.

It is possible that one of the four deputy general directors could serve as a temporary caretaker until his term expires next year. These are Yonov Frederick Agah from Nigeria, Karl Brauner from Germany, Alan Wolff from the USA and Yi Xiaozhun from China.

In February, it became known that the administration of US President Donald Trump was developing a draft exit from the WTO government procurement agreement. Sources of Bloomberg reported that the US was ready to withdraw from the agreement if it is not changed in accordance with the interests of Washington.

source: bloomberg.com