Tag Archives: 1st Latin American

Roberto Azevêdo: First Latin American Nominated as Head of WTO

Roberto AzevêdoThe World Trade Organization has nominated the first Latin American to ever head up the group in its 18-year history, giving the nod to 55-year-old Brazilian  member Roberto Azevêdo. Azevêdo will take charge starting on Sept. 1, 2013, and serve a four-year term as Director General. Roberto Azevêdo had previously served as Brazil’s ambassador to the WTO since 2008, and just barely beat out another Latin American, Mexico’s Herminio Blanco. Blanco, who served as Mexico’s Trade Minister previously, was reportedly the 1st choice of both the United States and European Union.

While entering the position as a newcomer, Azevêdo has had plenty of time to get to know the WTO, and wants to help resurrect its image as a driving force in international trade negotiations, rather than just an international policy-keeper. During his first press conference after the nomination last week, Azevêdo said that “The negotiating pillar of the WTO is completely stuck. There is a clear paralysis in the system. We have a trade agenda that we have to broaden and tackle.” His hopes to revamp the global trade group’s structures did not fall on dead ears, and he’s already got the support of many of the organizations key members, as well as politicians, furthering the call for change.

“By nominating Ambassador Azevêdo as a candidate for this high office, Brazil was confident that his experience and commitment could lead the organization towards a more dynamic and fair world economic order,” said Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff in a statement released to the press. “Still under the effects of the global crisis that began in 2008, it will be up to the WTO in the coming years to give a new, balanced and vigorous impetus to world trade, which is fundamental for the global economy to enter a new period of growth and social justice.’’

The selection of Azevêdo as WTO head speaks volumes of what many consider to be a global shift in economic order; one that stands to benefit Latin America, as well as many other parts of the developing world. “His selection is pretty significant both for Latin America and also for the emerging nations as well as the least developed nations on the globe,’’ said Felipe Berer, a trade attorney with Akerman Senterfitt in Miami. “It symbolizes the new economic order.”

In the past, organizations like the WTO simply overlooked the needs of less-developed nations, including Azevêdo’s own Brazil. However, these days are over, and with new leadership from the region itself, look to be changing sooner than later. This isn’t to say that the WTO will dramatically alter its focus to Latin America, but rather that it will change its focus to include more emerging economies; something that it simply can’t ignore in the new millenium

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