JOB/GC/245  
 
8 October  2020 
(20-6915) Page: 1/3 
General Council    
 
 
APPOINTMENT OF THE NEXT DIRECTOR -GENERAL  
INFORMAL MEETING AT THE LEVEL OF HEADS OF DELEGATIONS  
THURSDAY, 8 OCTOBER 2020  
Statement by the General Council Chair, H.E. Dr David Walker  
1  INTRODUCTION  
1.1.  Good morning. Welcome to this informal meeting of Heads of Delegation and thank you for 
attending at short notice.  
1.2.  As I announced in my statement at our previous meeting on 18 September, circulated in 
JOB/GC/244, the purpose of this meeting is to allow me, assisted by the Facilitators in this exercise, 
the Chair of the Dispute Settlement Body, Amb. Castillo, and the Chair of the Trade Policy Review 
Body, Amb. Aspelund, to report to the membership on the outcome of the second round of 
consultations concerning the selection of the next Di rector -General. Once again, this is in accordance 
with the Procedures for the Appointment of Directors -General in WT/L/509 and is also in line with 
our commitment to transparency, inclusiveness and full participation, as we set out in the modalities 
for Ph ase 3 of this process, reflected in document JOB/GC/243.  
2  ARRANGEMENTS FOR CONSULTATIONS  
2.1.  The Facilitators and I conducted the consultations over six days, in the period from 
24 September to 6 October. As  indicated in JOB/GC/244, the logistical and technical  arrangements 
for this second round of consultations were the same as for the first round, including with respect to 
non-resident delegations.  As was the case for the first round, the entire membership remained fully 
engaged in and committed to this proce ss.  The Facilitators and I are grateful for this very positive 
response, and for the continued adherence to the modalities for Phase 3 that I referred to earlier. It 
is clear that all Members attach great importance to this process.  
3  SUBSTANCE AND RESULTS OF THE CONSULTATIONS  
3.1.  Consistent with JOB/GC/243 and 244, each Member was asked again the same question, 
i.e. "What are your preferences?". Delegations were invited to express a maximum of two 
preferences in this second round, without ranking. We urged them  to provide two preferences in 
order to enhance the efficiency of the process. Once again, we informed all Members that we would 
not accept any negative preference.  
3.2.  In line with paragraph 18 of the Procedures, I will now report to you the outcome of this s econd 
round of consultations. As for the first round, the outcome of this round is the result of Members ' 
expressions of preferences, and our assessment was again guided strictly by the elements set out 
in paragraph 17 of the Procedures – and I refer in th is respect to my statement in JOB/GC/244.  
3.3.  The results of your preferences were communicated yesterday to the five Members who had 
candidates in this second round. In that meeting, I noted that paragraph 18 of the Procedures 
provides that: "It is understood  that the candidate or candidates least likely to attract consensus 
shall withdraw".  JOB/GC/245  
 
- 2 - 
 
  3.4.  As you know and again consistent with JOB/GC/243 and 244, three candidates are expected 
to withdraw at the end of this round. Thus, there will be only two candidates in th e third and final 
round.  
3.5.  On the basis of all of the above, and in keeping with the Procedures, our assessment of the 
preferences provided to us by you during this second round of consultations is that the following 
three candidates are least likely to attract consensus, and therefore expected to withdraw. These 
three candidates, in the order in which their nominations were received, and not in ascending or 
descending order of preferences, are:  
Ambassador Amina C. Mohamed  (Republic of Kenya)   
Mr Mohamma d Maziad AL -TUWAIJRI (Kingdom of Saudi Arabia)  
Dr Liam Fox       (United Kingdom ) 
3.6.  Therefore, we will begin the third and final round of consultations based on a revised slate of 
two candidates, again in the order in which their nominations were received, as  follows:  
Dr. (Mrs.) Ngozi Okonjo -Iweala  (Nigeria)   
H.E. Yoo Myung -hee    (Republic of Korea)  
3.7.  This final round of consultations will begin on 19 October and continue through 27 October. 
The arrangements for the consultations will remain the same, includi ng with respect to non -resident 
delegations. A communication will be sent out shortly after this meeting.  
3.8.  Let me once again stress that, in line with paragraph 6 of the Procedures, our aim continues 
to be to encourage and facilitate the building of consens us among Members, and to assist in moving 
from this final slate of two candidates to a decision on appointment. As this is the final round of the 
consultation process, it should bring us to the point where we can make a recommendation to the 
General Counci l concerning that decision. This means, as provided for in paragraph 17 of the 
Procedures, identifying the candidate around whom consensus can be built.  
3.9.  With this in mind, we will invite delegations to respond to the question: "What is your 
preference?". O nce again, the preferences that you have expressed in the first two rounds will not 
be used in this final round. I would therefore urge all Members to come forward once again to meet 
with us and to express their preference on the basis of the final slate o f two candidates. As in the 
previous rounds, the information we receive from Members will be treated by us in the strictest 
confidence.   
3.10.   In assessing the information that we receive and in reporting to Members, we will continue to 
be guided by the element s set out in paragraph 17 of the Procedures.  
3.11.   As we have done for the first two rounds, the outcome of the final round will be reported to 
all Members at an open -ended meeting of Heads of Delegation to be held as soon as possible 
following the conclusion of  the consultations. The Members who nominated the final two candidates 
will be informed of the outcome before the rest of the membership. Relevant communications 
concerning the Heads of Delegation meeting will be sent in due course.  
3.12.   Let me again reiterate,  as I have done since the start, that this process is your process: the 
decision to appoint the new Director -General will be for you and only you, the Members, to make.  
4  TRIBUTE TO CANDIDATES  
4.1.  Before I end my statement, let me express,  on behalf of the entir e membership, deep gratitude 
to Ambassador Amina C. Mohamed ; Mr Mohammad Maziad A l-Tuwaijri; and Dr Liam Fox  for their 
participation in this selection process. It was clear that Members consider them individuals of 
outstanding qualifications, with extensive and varied experience in international relations at the very 
highest levels of policy -making. In their res pective careers, they have been firm promoters of 
multilateralism and of the rules -based trading system in a range of different capacities, and I am JOB/GC/245  
 
- 3 - 
 
  certain that the WTO can continue to count on their commitment in the future. We fully realize, 
having list ened to you,  the Members,  that making a choice has been very difficult. I am sure you 
will all agree with us that in participating in the selection process, the candidates have all made a 
significant contribution to the standing and image of the WTO.  
4.2.  The F acilitators and I would also like to pay tribute to the Governments of the Republic of 
Kenya, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United Kingdom , and to the respective Geneva 
Representatives , Amb.  Cleopa Mailu , Amb.  Saleh Al -Husseini and Amb.  Julian Braith waite for 
contributing to this process with dignity, fairness and a constructive spirit. Their approach is most 
commendable and paves the way for the smooth continuation and conclusion of the process of 
appointing the next Director -General. They have all r eaffirmed once again their strong commitment 
to the multilateral trading system.  
4.3.  This concludes my statement, which will be circulated very shortly in a JOB document.  
__________