Clete Willems Quoted in Media on Future of World Trade Organization

Financial Times has quoted Akin Gump public law and policy partner Clete Willems in the article “WTO chief Roberto Azevêdo to step down early.” The article reports on a decision by the former Brazilian diplomat to quit his post as director-general of the World Trade Organization a year before it expires.

According to the FT, Azevêdo said his early departure would allow governments to focus a meeting of trade ministers planned for next year on reform of the organization rather than it being consumed with the process of appointing his successor. Meanwhile, there has been growing dissatisfaction in Washington with the WTO, including some calling for the United States to withdraw from it.

Willems said it would be a mistake for the US to leave the WTO. “I agree with the administration and folks on the Hill who think the WTO has failed to constrain some of the worst behaviour of China,” he said. “But the last thing we should do to counter China is to withdraw from the WTO. It is what they want, and it would be a grave mistake to walk away.”

As for who should assume the top position at the WTO, Willems told POLITICO, “The U.S. clearly needs someone in place who I think is going to help push for outcomes related to issues on developing country status, on issues related to China’s behaviors, and that’s going to be hard to find.” He added that it should be someone “who isn’t going to take the organization into more of a bureaucratic, U.N. type direction. Because if you do that you can kind of kiss goodbye to the WTO.”