Nine Vie for WTO DG

The nominees currently vying for the WTO’s top post are Alan Kyerematen of Ghana; Anabel González of Costa Rica; Mari Elka Pangestu of Indonesia; Tim Groser of New Zealand; Amina Mohamed of Kenya; Ahmad Thougan Hindawi of Jordan; Herminio Blanco of Mexico; Taeho Bark of Korea; and Roberto Carvalho de Azevêdo of Brazil.

Candidates will have the next two months to make themselves known to the membership and to engage in additional discussions. Beginning in April, members will then go through a series of consultations under the guidance of incoming General Council chair Shahid Bashir of Pakistan, who will take on the post after current chair Elin Østebø Johansen of Norway steps down.

After each round of consultations, candidates with the least levels of support are expected to withdraw from the race, until consensus can be built around one candidate. Absent agreement, the selection will go to a vote - which, while permitted under WTO selection procedures, is virtually unheard of. A new Director-General must be chosen by 31 May, at latest, in order to take office on 1 September.