DGs OF THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

The World Trade Organization (WTO) serves as a linchpin in the intricate machinery of global commerce, orchestrating trade

agreements and resolving disputes among member nations. DGs of the world trade organization role is navigating the complex

landscape of global trade, balancing the interests of diverse member states and driving initiatives for economic growth and development.

At the helm of this influential organization stand the Directors-General. They wield immense power and responsibility in shaping the course of international trade.

 

But beyond the surface lies a realm of intrigue and complexity that beckons exploration. Attention is immediately seized by the

pivotal role of WTO DGs in navigating the choppy waters of trade diplomacy and policy formulation. From Pascal Lamy to Roberto

Azevêdo, each DG brings a unique vision and set of priorities to the table, leaving an indelible mark on the trajectory of global trade.

 

Interest is piqued as we delve into the inner workings of the WTO and the pivotal role played by its DGs in advancing the

interests of member states and promoting fair and equitable trade practices. Their ability to navigate complex geopolitical dynamics and

bridge the gap between divergent interests makes them instrumental in fostering cooperation and collaboration on the world stage. Desire

is ignited to understand the

The Director-General of the World Trade Organization is an official of the World Trade Organization (WTO) responsible for overseeing and directing the administrative operations of the organization.

Because WTO decisions are made by member states through ministerial meetings or the General Council, the Director-General has little power over policy issues—his role is primarily advisory and managerial.

 

The Director-General oversees the WTO Secretariat of approximately 700 staff and is appointed by WTO members for a four-year term.

This article focuses on what you need to know about the director generals of world trade organization

 

          First Director-General: Peter Sutherland

Peter Sutherland was born on April 25, 1946, and attended Gonzaga College, University College Dublin, and King’s College Dublin Honor Society.

Mr. Sutherland is an Irish national, graduated in civil law and is a member of the Irish Bar Association (King’s Inns), the English Bar Association (Middle Temple) and the New York Bar Association.

He is also admitted to practice before the Supreme Court of the United States of America. Mr Sutherland died on January 7, 2018.

Appointed Director-General of the WTO

On January 1, 1995, he became Director-General of the World Trade Organization.

He served as Director General of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) from July 1, 1993 to January 1, 1995

 

He helped quell populist nationalism and seal the historic Uruguay Round trade agreement in 1994. His efforts gave rise to the World Trade Organization.

He greatly promoted the rule of law in international trade.

 

Second Director-General: Renato Ruggiero

Born in Naples on 9 April 1930, he received his law degree from the University of Naples in 1953.

He entered the Italian Foreign Service on January 10, 1955.

His first post abroad was at the Consulate General in São Paulo, where he dealt with problems arising from the last wave of Italian immigrants to Brazil. In January 1959, he was sent to Italy

He graduated from the University of Naples with a law degree in 1953 and subsequently entered the diplomatic service.

He subsequently worked at private companies including Fiat and energy company ENI.

After a brilliant business career, he became a top diplomat and was involved in troubles such as the 1985 Sigonella crisis.

He was known for his strong-willed negotiating skills, earning him the nickname “Rocky” Ruggiero. Ruggiero was serving as a Citigroup ambassador at the time of his death in 2013.

He is a member of the Bilderberg Group Steering Committee.

 

 

Appointed Director-General of the WTO

In 1995, Mr. Ruggiero was appointed Director-General of the World Trade Organization in Geneva, taking office on May 1, 1995.

Negotiated and created the European Regional Development Fund.

 

Third Director-General: Michael Kenneth Moore

 

Moore was born on 28 January 1949 in Whakatane, New Zealand’s Bay of Plenty region, the son of Audrey Evelyn (née Goodall) and Alan George.

He is a New Zealand politician, trade union organizer and author.

During the fourth Labor government, he held various positions, including Foreign Minister.

He served as New Zealand’s 34th Prime Minister for 59 days before the election of a new Parliament in the 1990 general election.

After Labor’s defeat at that election, Moore remained leader of the opposition until the 1993 general election, when Helen Clark successfully challenged him for the Labor leadership.

 

Appointed Director-General of the WTO

After retiring from New Zealand politics, Moore served as Director-General of the World Trade Organization from 1999 to 2002.

He also served as New Zealand’s ambassador to the United States from 2010 to 2015.

 

 

 

The fourth director-general: Supachai Panibati

Supachai Panitchpakdi was born on May 30, 1946. He is a Thai politician and professor.

He served as Secretary-General of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) from September 1, 2005 to August 31, 2013.

He studied in primary and secondary schools in Thailand at St. Gabriel’s College and Triam Udom Suksa School.

He subsequently obtained a Master’s degree in Economics, Development Planning and a PhD in Economic Planning and Development at the Netherlands School of Economics in Rotterdam (now known as Erasmus University).

In 1973, he completed his doctoral thesis under the guidance of Professor Jan Tinbergen, the first Nobel Prize winner in economics.

In the same year, he went to Cambridge University as a visiting scholar to conduct research on development models.

 

 

 

 

Appointed Director-General of the WTO

On July 22, 1999, he was elected Director-General of the World Trade Organization, serving jointly with Mike Moore when a decision could not be reached.

He took office on September 1, 2002, completing the second half of his six-year term.

 

 

Fifth Director-General: Pascal Lamy

Lamy was born in Levallois-Perret, Hautes-Seine, a suburb of Paris. Fifth Director-General; Pascal Lamy Studied at Sciences Po in Paris.

He graduated from HEC and ÉNA, where he graduated second in economics. He was born April 8, 1947 is a French political consultant and businessman.

He also served as EU Trade Commissioner for 5 years from September 13, 1999 to November 22, 2004.

 

He was an advisor to the transatlantic think tank “European Vision” , currently serves as Chairman Emeritus of the Paris-based company.

Think Tank, Notre Europe

Lamy serves as deputy secretary-general and secretary-general of the Inter-ministerial Committee for Industrial Structural Adjustment (CIASI) of the Ministry of Finance.

When Delors became president of the European Commission in 1984, he took Lamy with him as cabinet director, a post he held until the end of Delors’ term in 1994.

During his tenure, Lamy was known as the “Beast of Berlemont”, gendarmes and flying fish due to his habit of ordering civil servants and even the Directors

 

 

 

 

 

Appointed Director-General of the WTO

On May 13, 2005, Lamy was elected as the next Director-General of the World Trade Organization and took office on September 1, 2005 for a four-year term.

From September 1, 2005 to September 1, 2013, he served as the Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO) for a term of eight years.

In April 2009, WTO members reappointed him to a second four-year term starting on September 1, 2009.

He secured the EU nomination and won the support of candidates such as Carlos Pérez del Castillo of Uruguay and Jaya Krishna Khatri of Mauritius

 

Sixth Director-General: Roberto Carvalho de Azevedo

Roberto Carvalho de Azevêdo was born on October 3, 1957, is a Brazilian career diplomat who served as Director General of the World Trade Organization (WTO) from 2013 to 2020.  As of 2020, he serves as Executive Vice President and Director of Corporate Affairs at PepsiCo.

Azevedo graduated in Electrical Engineering from the University of Brasilia and International Relations from the Rio Blanco Institute.

 

Appointed Director-General of the WTO

In May 2013, Azevedo was appointed to succeed Pascal Lamy as Director-General of the WTO, with his term beginning on September 1, 2013.

Unlike his predecessors, Azevedo was a WTO ambassador rather than a minister before taking office.

Under his leadership, the WTO adopted the Bali Package Agreement in December 2013.

He was re-elected on February 28, 2017, and began his second term on September 1, 2017. [10]

Also under Azevedo, the organization has kept a deliberately low profile during the COVID-19 pandemic, remaining largely silent on export restrictions on medical equipment.

At a virtual meeting of all WTO members on May 14, 2020, Azevedo announced that he would resign on August 31, shortening his second term by a full year

 

The seventh Director-General: Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala

Okonjo-Iweala was born in Ogwashi-Ukwu, Delta State, Nigeria.

Her father, Professor Chukwuka Okonjo, was the Obi (King) of the Ogwashi-Ukwu Obahai royal family in Nigeria.

Okonjo-Iweala was educated at Queen’s School, Enugu; St. Anne’s School, Molete, Ibadan, Oyo State; and International School, Ibadan.

She arrived in the United States in 1973 to study at Harvard University, graduating magna cum laude in 1976 with a bachelor’s degree in economics.

She received a master’s degree in urban planning from MIT in 1978 and a doctorate in regional economics and development in 1981.

Thesis Technology Credit Policy, Rural Financial Markets and Agricultural Development in Nigeria.

She received an international fellowship from the American Association of University Women (AAUW) to support her doctoral research

She became a U.S. citizen in 2019 after working and studying in the United States for decades while running to be the next WTO director-general.

Given the ongoing trade tensions between China and the United States, analysts commented that this disclosure will be a factor in shaping China’s attitude towards her.

She is the author of several books, including Women and Leadership: Real Lives, Real Lessons co-authored with Julia Gillard (Penguin Random House, July 2020), Fighting Corruption is Dangerous: The Story Behind the Headlines (MIT Press, 2018), Reforming the UnReformable: Lessons from Nigeria, (MIT Press, 2012), and The Debt Trap in Nigeria: Towards a Sustainable Debt Strategy (Africa World Press, 2003)

She is also the founder of NOI-Polls, Nigeria’s first indigenous public opinion research organization. She also founded the Center for Economic Studies in Africa (C-SEA), a development research think tank based in Abuja, Nigeria. She is a distinguished visiting scholar at the Center for Global Development and the Brookings Institution, Washington, D.C.’s premier think tank.

Appointed Director-General of the WTO

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala is the seventh and currently Director-General of the WTO.

She assumed office on March 1, 2021, becoming the first woman and first African to serve as Director-General. Her term expires on August 31, 2025