Union still split over WTO leadership

Date: 22/04/1999

By Simon Taylor

MEMBERS of the World Trade Organisation are planning one last push next week to try to agree on a new director general by the 30 April deadline.

But diplomats say a decision will only be taken at the last minute because the trade club's 134 members are still evenly divided over the issue.

Ambassadors from the WTO member countries will meet next Monday (26 April) to try to build a consensus around one of the two leading candidates: New Zealander Mike Moore or Thailand's Supachai Panichpakdi.

EU member states remain split over who to support, with eight backing Moore and seven the Thai candidate. But officials point out that three of the EU's most powerful countries - France, Germany and Italy - support the New Zealander, which could swing the argument in his favour.

While it would help the process if the Union could agree on a single choice, diplomats say the main obstacle to finding a successor to outgoing chief Renato Ruggiero is US opposition to Supachai. But they add that Washington has now made it clear that it would not veto the Thai if he had overwhelming support from other WTO members.

Progress in finding a new director-general has been held up by the WTO custom of taking decisions by consensus, making it difficult to settle the argument because any one country can veto an appointment.

Officials predict that once a head of steam builds up behind one candidate, the winner will emerge quickly as countries switch their allegiance to the front runner.

Sources say Supachai's supporters are keen to break with the consensus tradition by moving to a vote, in the belief that their man enjoys the support of 65&percent; of members.