Thai candidate leads in WTO race

Date: 26/11/1998

By Simon Taylor

THAI Deputy Prime Minister Supachai Panichpakdi has nudged slightly ahead in the race to be head of the World Trade Organisation, although New Zealander Mike Moore is running a close second.

Trade officials in Geneva say all four candidates made impressive presentations to WTO ambassadors at a 'beauty pageant' earlier this month, but Supachai is believed to be nosing ahead because he has secured the support of Japan and South East Asian countries in the ASEAN trade bloc. Australia has also come out in support of the Thai politician, to the surprise of its close neighbour New Zealand.

Officials say former Prime Minister Moore was judged to have made the best presentation in Geneva, although Supachai impressed with his experience of tackling the financial crisis in Thailand and his renewed commitment to liberalisation.

Contender Roy MacLaren, currently Canadian high commissioner to the UK, is said to have come across as the most statesman-like of the four. Listeners were also impressed with the Moroccan candidate Hassan Abouyoub's knowledge of world trade rules, gained through running the Marrakesh ministerial meeting at the end of the Uruguay Round of negotiations and chairmanship of the WTO textile committee.

Despite Supachai's slight lead, officials say the contest is far from over, with the final result depending on which candidate the world's biggest trading powers - the US and the EU - choose to back.

Trade officials fear the latest dispute over the Union's banana regime has set back hopes of an early agreement, since the EU and the US are anxious not to fall out publicly over another WTO issue. They predict the final round of negotiations will only begin after the two have held bilateral discussions on the issue.

Before that happens, the 15 EU governments must decide which candidate to support. Until now, Union countries have been split. Trade officials from national capitals will try to agree on a candidate tomorrow (27 November).