FILE PHOTO: Director-General of World Trade Organization Roberto Azevedo attends a session at the 50th World Economic Forum (WEF) annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland, January 21, 2020. REUTERS/Denis Balibouse
May 14, 2020
GENEVA/BRUSSELS (Reuters) – The head of the World Trade Organization is expected to step down earlier than planned, a Geneva-based source said, and has summoned a virtual meeting to inform national members on Thursday afternoon.
Brazilian Roberto Azevedo, 62, has been director-general at the Geneva-based trade body since 2013 and was on a second term of office due to conclude at the end of August 2021.
The heads of delegations of the WTO’s 164 members were called to a special meeting to be held at 4 p.m. (1400 GMT) on Thursday to inform them about “pressing WTO administrative issues”.
The WTO said it would have an announcement following the meeting, but would not comment until then.
(Reporting by Emma Farge and Philip Blenkinsop; Editing by Michael Shields)
