DR. HERMINIO BLANCO IN GREAT BRITAIN TO PROMOTE HIS BID FOR THE POST OF WTO DIRECTOR-GENERAL

Mexico's candidate for the position of Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO), Dr. Herminio Blanco, made a working visit to London from February 28 to March 1 as part of his trip promoting his vision and proposals for the WTO in various countries. In Great Britain, Dr. Blanco held meetings with British government officials, such as Business Secretary Vince Cable and Kenneth Clarke, Minister without Portfolio.

He also met with British trade officials and well-known individuals from the private sector, and he spoke with leading media figures. He gave interviews to BBC and CNN on Richard Quest’s show.

During his visit, Dr. Blanco said that, in addition to its current challenges, it is crucial for the global economy that the WTO does not lose its relevance. As a candidate hoping to lead the organization, he outlined some of the main challenges he has faced successfully during his professional and academic careers, and he explained the understanding and creativity needed to serve as a bridge between the developed and developing countries. He spoke of his work in the private sector and the experience this has given him as a candidate.

He stressed that his proposal for the WTO is to follow a strategic route divided into three time horizons. In the short term, it will be essential to achieve concrete progress during the ninth Ministerial Conference in Bali, Indonesia. In the medium term, WTO members must address the outstanding issues of the Doha Round and redouble their efforts to make the organization more efficient. Lastly, the regional agreements must be harmonized within the multilateral trading system.

Dr. Blanco’s visit to the UK enabled him to explain his pragmatic yet optimistic perspective on how the challenges inherent in negotiating trade agreements can be transformed into opportunities, an assertion based on his extensive experience in these processes, such as his role as chief negotiator of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).

Dr. Blanco was accompanied by Ambassador Lourdes Aranda; his next destination is Paris, France.