Two NZers too many for WTO?

Trade Minister Tim Groser has confirmed he’s keen on taking the top job at the World Trade Organisation.

With his background in negotiations and more recently politics he would be well qualified for the position, but qualifications aren’t the only consideration.

Geography counts too and there’s a feeling two from New Zealand could be one too many:

. . . So far, only two have said they want the job.

One is New Zealand’s Trade Minister Tim Groser, who starts with a double disadvantage: most diplomats say it is the “developing countries’ turn”, and New Zealand has already held the job once in the WTO’s 17 year history.

One trade negotiator said it would be “very peculiar” for two of the WTO’s first six chiefs to come from the same small, rich country.

Another said he regularly met Groser and said he was “very down to earth. But another New Zealander? I don’t think so.” . . .

Former Prime Minister Mike Moore headed the WTO from 1999 – 2002 and was generally regarded as doing it well. But his relatively recent tenure could handicap Groser’s bid.

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