As part of these efforts Mexico last month nominated Dr Jesús Seade Kuri for the post of WTO Director-General to succeed the current Director-General, Roberto Azevêdo, who has announced he will step down on August 31.
“Mexico has reaffirmed its multilateralist conviction by proposing and supporting Jesús Seade candidacy for Director General of the WTO, a trade professional with a global view whose international and academic experience will contribute to building a strong and open multilateral trading system for the world,” Federico Salas, Ambassador of Mexico to India, told ET.
Referring to India-Mexico partnership in shaping multilateral order, Salas said, “Proposing Seade’s candidacy builds upon Mexico’s well-known commitment to multilateral solutions to our global problems.
This commitment is shared with India and both countries will have a chance to reinforce it during their simultaneous participation as non-permanent members of the United Nations Security Council during 2021-2022.
Both India and Mexico are like-minded partners due to their adherence to international order, global governance and democracy. As regional leaders, they work towards a stronger and reformed multilateralism.”
On the trade field, Seade has identified that many challenges lay ahead as the WTO needs to reaffirm its relevance given the limited progress made in recent negotiations, the paralysis of its Appellate Body, the urgent need to modernize the administration of existing agreements, and to promote the traditional issues of trade negotiation -such as fisheries and agriculture, but also technology-based trade opportunities such as e-commerce, according to the Mexican envoy.
A revitalized, strong, and functional WTO is needed to meet the global challenges of the pandemic, bring economic recovery for all and provide the stability needed to face other world endeavours.
“…Three main reasons make Seade’s candidacy an outstanding one. First, as a key player in the complicated negotiations that gave birth to the WTO, he has in-depth understanding of the Organization architecture.
Second, he is a high-level negotiator and consensus promoter, possessing technical expertise, strong political leadership, and creative thinking to find global coverage solutions.
And, third, throughout his professional career, he has demonstrated a successful capacity to promote dialogue both with public and private actors…,”claimed the Mexican envoy.
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