Furthermore, the WTO's credibility suffered from a divisive leadership row earlier in the year over who should succeed Renato Ruggiero as its director-general. An uneasy compromise, which involved splitting the six-year term between the two candidates, Mike Moore from New Zealand and Supachai Panitchpakdi from Thailand, did little to enhance the WTO's reputation. Moore, who took over the helm of the WTO in August, is ideally placed to heal the rifts. As the son of a poor farming family who was a labor leader and a welfare worker before entering politics, Moore also has an instinctive sympathy for the poorer developing nations. Moore has said a successful outcome in Seattle depends on how generous the rich nations are to the developing countries.
Nobody is better qualified to appeal to both sides.
The Next Round The Players. Europe's New Trade Commissioner. Europe's Agriculture Commissioner. Interview with EU Ambassador Hugo Paemen.