Brazilian Roberto Azevêdo will seek re-election at the WTO.
The announcement, which is not yet official, was made during an ordinary meeting of the WTO General Council in Geneva, Switzerland, when Roberto Azevêdo said he had the support of the Brazilian government; he explained that he saw "the need to address the issue to avoid uncertainty."
Ansa Brazil - The Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO), Brazilian Roberto Azevêdo, will run for re-election. The announcement, not yet official, was made during an ordinary meeting of the WTO General Council in Geneva, Switzerland, when he said he had the support of the Brazilian government. In a press conference, Azevêdo explained that he saw "the need to address the issue to avoid uncertainty. I said that I am available to assume a second term if the members consider that I can be useful," he added.
The candidacy must be formalized between October and December, when the selection process opens, with the results expected in May of next year. Experts believe the Brazilian candidate has a strong chance of being re-elected. No other candidates have yet submitted their candidacies.
One of Azevêdo's greatest triumphs was achieving significant progress within the Doha Round, which had been stalled for years. These trade negotiations began in 2001 and were created with the purpose of expanding the liberalization and opening of international trade as an engine for the development of non-industrialized countries.
The diplomat became the first Latin American to hold the position in 2013.