The selection of Roberto Azevêdo as the new head of the World Trade Organisation is undoubtably a diplomatic coup for Brazil. Under the presidency of Dilma Rousseff, the Latin American giant is continuing to try and build a reputation as the world’s mediator-in-chief, placing its candidates at the top of multilateral bodies. Mr Azevêdo’s choice follows the appointment of José Graziano da Silva as director-general of the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation in 2010.
A harder question is whether Mr Azevêdo’s selection can revive the fortunes of an organisation that is struggling to retain its influence. The WTO continues to have a trusted role in monitoring trade agreements and umpiring disputes. But deep disagreements among key trading nations have meant the Geneva-based body has been unable to broker multilateral deals. The Doha round, which began in 2001, is dead in all but name.
The WTO is absent just when the global economy needs firm stewardship. World trade grew by just 2 per cent in 2012, the second-worst performance since records began in 1981, and less than global economic growth. As Pascal Lamy, the current WTO chief, warned last month, the threat of protectionism is rising. Ever more economies are turning to bilateral trade deals, a second-best solution since they involve trade displacement from third parties.