Fran O'Sullivan, an Assistant Editor with the New Zealand Herald surveys the three remaining candidates, and reports on the thoughts of NZ Trade Negotiations Minister Jim Sutton: "Search for a WTO leader".
Who will NZ support:
Pascal Lamy:
"Trade Negotiations Minister Jim Sutton concedes Lamy has strong credentials for the top job and admires his undoubted Gallic charm.
But Sutton is also critical of the EU's protectionist approach to agriculture.
Like his Australian counterpart, Mark Vaile - who as far back as December said Lamy's campaign was unofficially being run by then US Trade Representative Bob Zoellick - Sutton would prefer a more obvious free-marketer in the job."
Carlos Perez del Castillo:
"Perez del Castillo is openly backed by New Zealand, Australia and other members of the Cairns group of agricultural exporting nations.
Trade Negotiations Minister Jim Sutton expects him to be in the final round."
Jaya Krishna Cuttaree:
"Trade Negotiations Minister Jim Sutton wants Perez del Castillo. But if the Uruguayan drops out after this conclave, as Cuttaree suggests, New Zealand is expected to fold its vote in Lamy's favour on the grounds of sheer managerial competence to get the Doha Round completed. "
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