On 28 February, the WTO General Council approved by consensus the appointment of chairpersons for WTO bodies: H.E. Mr Xavier Carim of South Africa (General Council) and H.E. Mr Junichi Ihara of Japan (Dispute Settlement Body).
Ambassador Carim noted that WTO members faced a “challenging year” in which they would need to carry out regular business alongside preparations for the Ministerial Conference in Buenos Aires. “In our day-to-day work and activities, we should be more deliberate in seeking to build a more inclusive multilateralism characterised by greater cooperation and a real sensitivity and empathy to the challenges members confront, particularly the developmental challenges of the poorest amongst us.” He also said that an “immediate priority” was to ensure that the remainder of the 2017 chairpersons slate be finalised “as soon as possible”.
