14 May 2013: Following extensive informal consultations among members of the World Trade Organization (WTO), the WTO General Council has approved the appointment of Ambassador Roberto Carvalho de Azevêdo (Brazil) as the next Director-General of the WTO. Azevêdo will take office on 1 September 2013.

The decision on the appointment of the new WTO Director-General followed an intricate consultation process that ultimately led to a decision by consensus of all WTO members. Of an initial nine candidates in October 2012, members engaged in several consultation rounds led by Jonathan Fried (Canada), Chair of the Dispute Settlement Body, Joakim Reiter (Sweden), Chair of the Trade Policy Review Body, and Shahid Bashir (Pakistan), Chair of the General Council, together know as the “Troika,” and finally agreed by consensus on the appointment of Amb. Azevêdo.

Amb. Azevêdo has a long-standing experience in the WTO and will leave his position as Permanent Representative of Brazil to the WTO to head of this organization.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has welcomed Azevêdo’s appointment, saying he looks forward to working with the incoming Director-General to ensure that international trade will “achieve inclusive, sustained and equitable growth, help fight poverty and promote global sustainable development.” [WTO Press Release] [UN Press Release]