People who might have run for WTO Director-General, but did not
Since the end of December, there have been four candidates for the World Trade Organization (WTO) Director-General. Prior to December the situation was more fluid.
In late November, Choike.org ("a portal on Souther civil societies") looked at the range of potential candidates: Choike - Race for new WTO DG gains momentum
Choike.org listed the current four candidates. In addition, it carried speculation about others who might enter the race:
- "Canada
Canada’s former Trade Minister and WTO Ambassador Sergio Marchi, a developed-country contender, was in the running for the top job, but has since pulled out – as of October 10. Had he remained in the race, though, his bid would have been at a disadvantage as fellow Canadian, Don Johnston, currently serves as Secretary-General of another European-based inter-governmental organization, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).
France
...Outside of any possible run by Lamy [Lamy, of course, did enter the race - Ben], however, informed sources have suggested that most likely a candidate could emerge from the EU.
Other Potential Candidates
Other potential African candidates may yet surface. For example, press reports indicate that Hon. Alan Kyerematen, the Ghanaian Trade Minister, is viewed as a possible candidate. His candidacy has yet to be publicly confirmed.
Former South African Trade and Industry Minister Alec Erwin - now the Minister of Public Enterprises - has confirmed that he was never in the running for the position, despite rumours to the contrary. “Erwin never offered himself for the candidacy of the Director General of the WTO,” this according to Tshediso Matona, the Deputy Director General of International Trade at the South African Department of Trade and Industry.
On a more speculative note, Shotaro Oshima and New Zealand’s Tim Groser, WTO Agriculture Chair, have also surfaced in trade circles as likely candidates."
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