WTO Announces Leadership Appointments
The World Trade Organization on Aug. 17 announced the appointment of four deputies to World Trade Organization (WTO) Director-General-Elect Roberto Azevedo. The selections include Yi Xiaozhun of China, Karl-Ernst Brauner of Germany, Yonov Frederick Agah of Nigeria and former U.S. Deputy Chief of Mission in Geneva David Shark of the United States. Azevedo will take over WTO after Pascal Lamy’s second term expires Sept. 1. The four deputies are slated to begin work Oct. 1, according to the WTO in a press release (here). Azevêdo also said Tim Yeend, Australian Ambassador to the WTO for the last three years, will become Chef de Cabinet. U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) Michael Froman praised the selection.
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“We welcome the strong leadership team announced today by the incoming Director-General of the WTO, Roberto Azevedo, and applaud in particular the selection of David Shark as Deputy Director General,” said Froman in a press release (here) the day of the announcement. “This is a pivotal moment for the future of multilateral trade negotiations, and this seasoned team will play an important role in the effort to strengthen the multilateral system by focusing the WTO on the successful pursuit of fresh, credible approaches to the craft and governance of global trade.”