Bridges Weekly Trade News Digest • Volume 6 • Number 23 • 20th June 2002
Stuart Harbinson Appointed WTO Chief Of Staff
Mr. Stuart Harbinson (Permanent Representative of Hong Kong) and current Chair of the WTO special sessions of negotiations on agriculture, has been appointed as Director of the office of the WTO Director-General by incoming WTO Director-General, Supachai Panitchpakdi. This move will make Harbinson the Chef de Cabinet, or Chief of Staff, and Supachai’s chief advisor when he takes over the position from Mike Moore on 1 September 2002. Harbinson’s appointment has been widely welcomed in trade circles. "It’s an inspired choice," remarked one trade official, adding that he was "respected and liked by everyone." This had also helped him in his appointment as chair of the sensitive and difficult agricultural negotiations. Harbinson was acknowledged as playing a crucial role in ensuring the successful launch last November of the Doha round of global trade talks, when he was Chair of the WTO’s ruling General Council. His new position as a WTO staff member may however mean that he may have to step down as chair of the special sessions on agriculture unless Members agree otherwise. As time constraints and opposition by developing countries to a WTO staff member chairing negotiations makes such an agreement unlikely, the negotiations could be slowed down unless a replacement is found in a short period of time. Circulation of the names of likely candidates has not yet begun.
"International Economy: Relief As WTO Chief Picks ‘Safe’ Adviser," FINANCIAL TIMES, 13 June 2002; "Stuart Harbinson Leaving Agriculture Negotiations To Become New WTO DG Right Hand," GENEVA WATCH, 13 June 2002.