WTO set to appoint Brazil's Azevêdo as new Director-General

Nine countries nominated candidates for the position of Director General of the WTO by the deadline 31 December 2012. These candidates will present themselves to the Members of the WTO in a meeting of the General Council 29, 30 and 31 January January. The meetings will be chaired by Norwegian Ambassador Elin Østebø Johansen in her capacity as Chair of the General Council.

Some 300 questions were asked of Norway’s trade- and trade related policies during the 6th trade policy review of Norway in the WTO, which took place 9 and 11 October 2012. In Members’ statements, Norway was widely praised for its active and constructive role in the multilateral trading system, including measures and initiatives in favour of developing countries.

Norway and Canada have today requested the WTO to appoint the members of the dispute settlement panel established to consider whether the EU legislation on trade in seal products is consistent with its obligations under WTO rules.

The Agreement on Government Procurement (GPA) is the only legally binding agreement in the WTO focusing on the subject of government procurement. It is a plurilateral treaty, i.e. not all WTO members are parties to the Agreement. The Agreement covers the procurement of goods, services and capital infrastructure by public authorities and is administered by a Committee on Government Procurement.