Candidates for WTO chief meet members for presentation

In his presentation, Abdel-Hamid Mamdouh of Egypt, who is former director of the Trade in Services and Investment Division of the WTO, and contributed to the drafting of the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS), stressed that the negotiating function breakdown is causing huge difficulties for the WTO as the dispute settlement function gained more strength than the other two "legs" over the past 25 years.

"Reforming the WTO is ... not about restructuring departments or reallocating resources across different projects or different country programs. This is about reforming the treaty, and the treaty is that enforceable contract between governments, and the only way reform can take place is through negotiations," he said.

According to the agenda, the special session of the General Council will last until July 17. Over the next two days, the rest five candidates, respectively nominated by Moldova, the Republic of Korea, Kenya, Saudi Arabia and Britain will conduct the presentation.

The second phase of the selection process in which the candidates "make themselves known to members" will end on Sept 7, and then the General Council chairperson will consult with all WTO members before making the final decision.

Due to the unexpected announcement in mid-May that the incumbent WTO chief Roberto Azevedo will resign on Aug 31, a year before his term expires, the WTO had to start the selection process for his successor on June 8.