MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Three candidates for WTO chair.

The next Director General of the World Trade Organization will be nominated at the latest next May 31, revealed WTO General Council president Shotaro Oshima from Japan.

Three candidates outstand for the post currently held by Supachai Panitchpakdi from Thailand: WTO Brazilian Ambassador Luiz Felipe Seixas Correia; former WTO Ambassador Carlos Perez del Castillo from Uruguay and Jayen Cuttaree, Foreign Affairs minister from Mauritius island.

Mr. Panitchpakdi term expires next September 1, 2005.

The following WTO ministerial meeting is scheduled to take place in Hong Kong December 13/18 next year.

Brazil and Uruguay have clashed over WTO candidacy. Brazil contrary to previous verbal support has refused to back the Uruguayan candidate arguing that in recent WTO negotiations he helped draft resolutions which were unfavourable for the G-20 headed by Brazil, India and China.