Low-down on top candidates in race for next WTO chief job

Amb. Amina Mohamed makes her speech on the candidature for the position of the Director General of the World Trade Organization from Harambee House, Nairobi.

The World Trade Organisation (WTO) closed nominations for its next director-general to replace Brazil’s Roberto Azevedo, who is stepping down on August 31, a year early.

The new WTO chief will need to steer reform and negotiations in the face of rising protectionism, a deep recession caused by the Covid-19 and growing trade tensions, notably between the US and China. Below is a summary of the eight confirmed candidates: