THE LAW OF THE JUNGLE
The formal nomination of candidates has not yet begun but the WTO will want to avoid a repeat of 1999, when New Zealander Mike Moore and Thailand's Supachai Panitchpakdi split the vote.
Rohinton Medhora, president of Canada-based think tank the Centre for International Governance Innovation, said there would be a "tremendous clash" if Washington and Beijing proposed candidates or sought to play prominent roles in the selection.
A spokesman for China's foreign ministry said it would defer to "the relevant departments" on the specific task of searching for a new Director-General and was ready to "maintain close communication and coordination" to ensure a smooth handover.
The U.S. Trade Representative’s office declined to comment, referring to a previous statement from representative Robert Lighthizer saying the United States looked forward to participating in the selection process.
The divisions are not only between Washington and Beijing.
Europe is challenging import tariffs on steel and aluminium imposed on the basis of "national security" by Trump.
National security has also been invoked by Japan in curbs of high-tech exports to South Korea, in a trade dispute between Russia and Ukraine, and a WTO case brought by Qatar against Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia.
"We're seeing a return to the law of the jungle," said Roberto Zapata, formerly Mexico's WTO ambassador and chair of fish subsidy talks. "Members need to adapt the organization to the current challenges. If not the WTO could be condemned to irrelevance."
