Why the WTO Director-General Matters ¶
As the World Trade Organization (WTO) faces unprecedented challenges, the role of its Director-General has become more critical than ever. On 14 May, Roberto Azevêdo announced his decision to step down a year earlier than planned, sparking a scramble among governments to push their preferred candidates for the position.
However, the Director-General's role is often misunderstood. Despite holding almost no formal power, the Director-General can wield significant influence through their soft power, convening, coaxing, and cajoling members into action.
Here are five reasons why the Director-General matters:
- The Director-General is the only person who can speak up for the WTO without vested interests, championing the system around the world and at G7 and G20 meetings.
- The Director-General wields significant soft power, which can be used to convene, coax, and cajole members into action.
- The Director-General can be the difference between success and failure in a negotiation, as seen in the Trade Facilitation Agreement in 2013.
- The Director-General can make discussions more inclusive and democratic by changing how debates and negotiations are structured.
- The WTO is entering a new era, and the Director-General has an opportunity to help shape it by advancing the debate on reform and delivering incremental change.
As the WTO navigates its most challenging period, the next Director-General will need to possess a unique combination of technical knowledge, creativity, political judgement, boundless energy, and near-infinite patience. They must be seen as a fair and honest broker, trusted by 164 governments and leaders without favouring any particular one.
With the stakes higher than ever, the new Director-General will have the rare opportunity to make a big difference in shaping the global trading system.
Published on 20 July 2020.
