Former UK International Trade Secretary Dr Liam Fox says experienced leadership is needed as selection process continues
Dr Liam Fox said he has the experience and vision to revitalise the World Trade Organization (WTO) after making it through to the second round of the selection process for the next Director General (DG).
Today, three candidates, Dr Jesús Seade, Tudor Ulianovschi, and Hamid Mamdouh, have withdrawn from the race. Dr Fox thanked them for such positive contributions to the debate surrounding our global trade. The next round of the process begins on Thursday 24th September.
Speaking from Geneva where Dr Fox has been meeting representatives from around the world, the former UK International Trade Secretary said:
The UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson nominated Dr Fox to be a candidate to replace current Director-General, Roberto Azevedo, who stepped down after seven years in charge.
Dr Fox is campaigning to restore the credibility of the WTO at the heart of the rules-based trading system, reform its Appellate Body, deliver genuine gender equality by ensuring that at least half of his top team are women and work more closely with other international organizations.
He says that from the first day of his appointment he will work to ensure the global pandemic does not lead to a rise in protectionism, and will make smaller developing countries, small businesses and ‘ensuring global trade works for everyone’ his key priorities.
Today he warned it is vital the WTO selects a leader with the right qualifications for a series of urgent challenges.
He said: