The surprise resignation of Roberto Azevedo leaves World Trade Organization members with less than 3 months to appoint his successor, a process which usually takes 9 months.
Azevedo said it had been a"personal decision" reached with his family, and stressed that he was not leaving to pursue"political opportunities."
His abrupt departure leaves WTO members with less than 3 months to appoint a successor, a process which usually takes 9 months.Azevedo's departure comes at a bad time with the WTO already in crisis before the pandemic hit, dealing withand scathing criticism by the United States under President Donald Trump, who has pushed for reforms of the Geneva-based body.
The procedure for appointing the director-general of the WTO is not an election but a process of elimination carried out in consultation with members.On Azevedo's watch, WTO members concluded theirwhen they reached a deal in Bali in late 2013 on overhauling global customs procedures. But since his second term began in 2017, countries have failed to reach further multilateral agreements, and the WTO has struggled to deal with a US administration openly hostile to its multilateral approach.
The WTO was also forced to put its dispute settlement appeal system on ice last December after Washington blocked the appointment of new judges, preventing it from reaching a 3-judge quorum.
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