Lamy favourite for WTO job

By Martin Banks

Date: 12/05/05

FORMER trade commissioner Pascal Lamy has emerged as the favourite to become the next head of the World Trade Organization (WTO).

Kenya's WTO ambassador Amina Mohamed, who heads the selection panel, was to conclude today (12 May) consultations with representatives of the body's 148 members.

Four candidates were initially in competition, which has now become a race between Lamy and Carlos Pérez del Castillo, the former Uruguayan trade envoy.

The 58-year-old Frenchman is considered to be the frontrunner to succeed Supachai Panitchpakdi of Thailand as WTO director-general in August.

Paris has pressed francophone African countries to back Lamy, who has the support of the 25 EU member states, while Pérez del Castillo is backed by most Latin American countries and members of the Cairns Group of major farm exporters, including Australia and New Zealand.

Panitchpakdi's successor must be chosen by the end of this month.

Lamy was trade commissioner in the Romano Prodi Commission and was Jacques Delors's chief advisor in Brussels for nine years.

The last WTO leadership race in 1999 was marked by a bitter dispute which was resolved by splitting the six-year term between Panitchpakdi and New Zealand's Mike Moore.

Article reports that the former European Commissioner for Trade, Pascal Lamy, emerged as the favourite to become the next head of the World Trade Organisation. The new Director-General had to be appointed by the end of May 2005.

WTO: Director-General selection process http://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/dg_e/dg_selection_process_e.htm

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