Members of the World Trade Organization re-appointed Pascal Lamy to a second term as the director general. Lamy, from France, and the former European trade commissioner, would stay on at his role for another four years, following the consensus decision of the WTO’s General Council, the main organ comprised of all 153 members. Lamy ran for the post unopposed, in part, aides have quoted him as saying, “because no one else wants this job.” As head of the WTO, Lamy will try to convince members to conclude negotiations on the Doha Round of trade talks which have been open since 2001. The round aims to further liberalize trade while adding in a development angle to help developing countries prosper under an open trade regime.

Disputes between richer economies and developing nations have stalled talks, as disagreements have not yet been solved on market access and subsidies. Lamy will also have to deal with what he has called a creeping rise in protectionism around the world, which could threaten world trade. Already, the WTO has predicted world trade will drop nine percent this year, due to the credit crunch affecting trade finance and the economic downturn which has lowered demand. EU Trade Commissioner Catherine Ashton, who called Lamy a “tireless advocate of the benefits of open and rules-based trade,” welcomed the reappointment.