On December 10 th 2002, the General Council of the World Trade Organization adopted a formal set of procedures for the appointment of Directors-General (WT/L/509 – Procedures for the Appointment of Directors-General), which includes a formal timeline, a system of meeting with candidates as well as candidate criteria. These procedures provide an outline of basic procedures important for the legitimate selection of high-level international officials.

http://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/dg_e/stat_oshima_20oct04_e.htm

Qualifications: extensive experience in international relations – trade, economic issues, political experience, commitment to work and objectives of WTO, proven leadership and managerial skills, and communications skills.

Procedures: a detailed timeframe has been established in which the appointment process must start 9 moths prior to the end of the term of the outgoing Director-General and should conclude 3 months prior to this date. Members have one month after the start of the process to nominate candidates after which candidates shall be invited to meet with members at a formal General Council meeting and to make a brief presentation followed by a brief question and answer period. Candidates then have three months to make themselves known to members. In the final two months, the General Council engages in consultations to narrow field of candidates, and the outcomes of these consultations are reported to the membership at each stage. Among the factors to be considered in selecting a candidate, Members are encouraged to take into consideration the desirability of reflecting the diversity of the WTO’s membership in successive appointments. After consultations the Chair recommends for appointment the candidate most likely to attract consensus to the General Council, which then aims to reach a decision by consensus but may bring the decision to a vote as a last resort.