EU Trade Commissioner Hogan says he won't run for WTO top post
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E-mail Xinhua, June 29, 2020
BRUSSELS, June 29 (Xinhua) -- European Union Trade Commissioner Phil Hogan said in a statement on Monday that he will not run for the position of director-general of the World Trade Organization (WTO).
Hogan, an Irishman, said "I have decided that I will not be putting my name forward for the position of Director-General of the World Trade Organization."
"I have informed the President of the Commission today. In consultation and approval of President (Ursula) von der Leyen, I will return to my duties of Trade Commissioner with immediate effect," he said.
On May 14, Roberto Azevedo, the incumbent WTO chief, announced he will step down on Aug. 31 for family reasons, one year earlier than expected, leaving the key trade role open.
Five candidates, namely, Mexico's former WTO Deputy Director-General Jesus Seade Kuri, former Nigerian Finance Minister Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, former Egyptian diplomat Hamid Mamdou, former Moldovan Foreign Minister Tudor Ulianovschi and South Korean Trade Minister Yoo Myung-hee have been nominated by their countries to run for the position.
The nominations window closes on July 8. Enditem
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