Commentary: Major trade powers should rally behind new WTO chief to revive crucial talks
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E-mail Xinhua, May 9, 2013
The World Trade Organization (WTO) finally has a new chief from a major emerging economy.
Roberto Azevedo, Brazil's permanent representative to the WTO, is expected to replace Frenchman Pascal Lamy as the head of the global trade regulating body on Sept. 1.
In these days, there is not much good news coming out of the WTO as the ambitious Doha Round trade negotiations are stalled for years and protectionism is on the rise amid global economic uncertainties.
But Azevedo's selection as the new WTO chief is still something worth celebrating.
It is the first time when a candidate from the so-called the BRICS countries, which groups together Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, to get the top job at the WTO.
Although its significance should not be overstated, it does further testifies to the widely recognized fact that emerging economies are playing an increasingly important role in global economic activities.
As all major emerging economies benefit greatly from a free world trade system, Azevedo will probably inject fresh impetus into the global drive to achieve positive results from the long-stalled Doha Round talks.
It is encouraging to hear the incoming WTO head talk a lot about the value of a multilateral trade system and the danger of rising protectionism.
But no one should be ignorant about the fact that Azevedo's efforts to revive stalled trade talks and fight disruptive protectionist measures can succeed only if major global trade powers rally behind him and iron out their differences for the global development.
The Doha Round negotiations, launched in 2001 to help poor countries achieve economic and social development through trade liberalization, have been in stalemate since July 2008 when major trade powers failed to reach a comprehensive deal after marathon talks.
Developed economies like the United States and the European Union were reluctant to give up their trade distorting agricultural subsidies, while blaming emerging economies for not opening up their markets enough to agricultural and manufactured imports.
Since then, numerous efforts to save the Doha Round have gone nowhere and countries have instead chosen to secure bilateral and regional free trade agreements.
But no matter how valuable these deals could be, they are in no place to replace a comprehensive global trade pact that could significantly reduce trade barriers and facilitate movement of goods around the world.
As a crucial global trade power, China has both enjoyed the wonderful benefits of ever expanding trade with the outside world and tasted the bitter results of rising protectionism, especially from the United States and the European Union.
It is in the best interest of China to see the new WTO chief succeed in his efforts to save the long-stalled Doha Round talks and to reestablish the WTO as a valuable international organization.
Other major trade powers, both developed countries and emerging economies, should rein in internal protectionist impulses and join China in rallying behind Azevedo to push forward the global free trade. Endi
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