Labour ex-Cabinet minister Lord Mandelson bids to become next head of the World Trade Organisation saying the system ‘needs fixing’ as Downing Street lines up Liam Fox as a rival candidate
- Tony Blair’s ex-political fixer set out his stall to become new director general
- He said global trade was ‘is not in good health and needs fixing’ in pitch for post
- But he faces competition from Liam Fox, the ex international trade minister
- Both face a hard time getting backing from foreign nations to win job
Former Labour Cabinet minister Peter Mandelson wants to become the next head of the World Trade Organisation, he revealed today.
Tony Blair‘s ex-political fixer set out his stall to become director general of the international commerce gatekeeper, saying global trade was ‘is not in good health and needs fixing’.
But the peer, who also served as an EU trade commissioner between 2004 and 2008, faces stiff competition at home and abroad.
Downing Street is believed to have drawn up a shortlist of possible nominations, which includes Liam Fox, the ex-international trade secretary.
Ireland’s Phil Hogan is also said to be interested in running to replace Roberto Azevêdo, who quit in May, a year ahead of schedule.
It comes at a difficult time for the WTO. Azevêdo’s second term does not end until September next year but under his stewardship it has been strangled out of power by Donald Trump’s White House.
Tony Blair’s ex-political fixer set out his stall to become director general of the international commerce gatekeeper, saying global trade was ‘is not in good health and needs fixing’
Current director general Roberto Azevêdo, announced his resignation in May, a year ahead of schedule
Ever since his campaign in 2016, Trump attacked the WTO as one of the worst trade deals America ever made, in large part because China was allowed to join.
Setting out his staff in an article for the Times’ Red Box, Lord Mandelson wrote: ‘Not only have the WTO’s core functions become impaired but the whole thrust of its policy-making, while not derailed, is being challenged and slowed, including in the West.
Downing Street is believed to have drawn up a shortlist of possible nominations, which includes Liam Fox, the ex-international trade secretary
‘Workers are alarmed by their wages and jobs being outsourced with less secure livelihoods replacing them.
‘They and their communities feel less protected and this vulnerability is being exploited by new political forces. ‘
Lord Mandelson was the first ever ‘spin doctor’ and helped Labour sweep to power in 1997 under Mr Blair.
MP for Hartlepool from 1992 to 2004 he help a string of senior Cabinet posts including Norther Ireland Secretary and trade and industry secretary. After becoming a peer he was First Secretary of State under Gordon Brown.
But his career was dogged by controversy. He was forced to resign as a minister in 1998 after failing to register a loan of £373,000 from Labour MP and multi-millionaire Geoffrey Robinson.
After being brought back into the Cabinet he quit for a second time in 2001 after being accused of using his position to help an Indian businessman, Srichand Hinduja, receive a UK passport. He was later cleared of wrong-doing.
The WTO has three significant functions: to facilitate negotiations for multilateral trade deals, to resolve cross-border commerce disputes and to centralise trade policies.
The White House has cut off the WTO’s ability to carry out the first two.
Last year President Trump paralysed the body by blocking new appointments to its Appellate Body, a seven-member committee which judges trade disputes.
As a result the WTO cannot resolve international trade disagreements on future cases as of December 11.
The White House has argued that China has not fulfilled commitments made by Beijing when it joined in 2001 to move towards a more free market-based economy.