The British government looks set to nominate former cabinet minister and Brexiteer Liam Fox as the UK candidate to lead the World Trade Organization. The WTO is going to appoint a new director-general to replace Roberto Azevedo, the Brazilian who is quitting the role on the 31st of August.
Liam Fox has been a Conservative MP since 1992 and has been a prominent Brexiteer. UNN’s Oliver Down understands that the former Labour cabinet minister Lord Mandelson has also expressed an interest in the role but that number 10 look likely to go with Liam Fox.
Mr Fox will join a field of candidates that currently include Kenya’s culture minister Amina Mohamed; Egypt’s Hamid Mamdouh; Tudor Ulianovschi from Moldova; South Korea’s Yoo Myung-hee; Jesús Seade Kuri from Mexico as well as Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala from Nigeria.
This contest is considered as crucial for the WTO, amid a slump in global trade caused by the coronavirus pandemic. The body was established in 1995 and provides a forum for its 164 members to oversee a system of rules that govern global trade.
The UK is currently in the process of negotiating a free trade agreement with the European Union. Given that an extension has now been ruled out the 11-month transition period will end at the end of the year.
If the UK and EU fail to reach an agreement, trade between them will default to the standard international set of rules set by the WTO- this is why some consider Britain’s nominee to be so important.
All WTO member countries have until 5 o’clock today to nominate candidates and with voting will begin later this year.
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Current Affairs Correspondent | My name is Oliver Down I am 22, and a staunch brexiteer. I am a Bristolian lad who studied politics in Leicester. I believe in free speech and accurate journalism and I won’t be afraid to give you “the other side” of the story!
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