WTO key body settles on Brazilian Azevêdo as next DG

The General Council of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) has recommended Roberto Carvalho de Azevêdo of Brazil to be the next Director-General of the Geneva-based institution.

The General Council, also known as Troika, announced this May 8, 2013 at an informal meeting of the Heads of Delegation from Member Countries.

“…our assessment of the preferences provided to us by you during this third round of consultations is that the candidate from Brazil, Mr. Roberto Carvalho de Azevêdo is the candidate most likely of the two to attract consensus,” WTO General Council Chair Shahid Bashir said in a statement.

The WTO on April 26, 2013 announced that Mexico’s Herminio Blanco and Brazilian Roberto Carvalho de Azevêdo made the final cut.

Mr Carvalho de Azevêdo will now have to secure a consensus approval from WTO members at a meeting scheduled for May 14, 2013 before succeeding Pascal Lamy as Director General.

The General Council Chair explained that Mr. Azevêdo carried the largest support by Members in the final round and has consistently done so in each round; and, he enjoyed support from Members from all levels of development and from all geographic regions and has done so throughout the process.

If approved by WTO members, Mr. Azevêdo’s four-year term of office as DG will begin September 1, 2013.

By Ekow Quandzie