Bridges Weekly Trade News Digest • Volume 5 • Number 43 • 20th December 2001

Moore Shuffles WTO Secretariat Deck

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On 14 December, WTO Director-General Mike Moore announced his plan to reorganise the WTO Secretariat in order to prepare for the challenge of meeting the mandate from Doha and in general to improve the functioning of the Secretariat. These changes are effective immediately and "expert advice" will be sought in March 2002 to review the new arrangements.

Citing the need for efficiency gains and cost saving measures, Moore determined that consolidating certain divisions would be of benefit. As well, in light of the ambitious timeline laid out in Doha, he cited his "duty to move now."

Notably, Moore has merged most of the Development Division with that of the Economic Research and Analysis Division. This new division will service the Committee on Trade and Development (CTD) and the Informal Group of Developing Countries. While Moore speculated that this change represents a "substantial increase in resources dedicated to development issues," some trade analysts are concerned that development issues will now be seen from more of a research rather than an operational lens. One trade delegate noted that staff from the former Economic Research and Analysis Division are "up in arms" due to the lack of consultation on this move. This would appear to run contrary to Moore’s opening remarks, which point to input "from staff at all levels." Heading up this new division will be Patrick Low, former Director of the Director-General’s Office.

In addition, a new Council and Trade Negotiating Committee (TNC) Division is to be established. This move merges the Council Division with that of the Ministerial Sessions Division. Again, cost and efficiency gains were noted via the combining of related functions of servicing the two bodies. The new Division will also service the Dispute Settlement Body. Heading up this Division is Mr. Evan Rogerson.

Furthermore, a new Resource and Performance Analysis function is to be set up in order to ensure the Secretariat divisions are optimally staffed and efficiently managed.

For a detailed view of the new Secretariat organisational chart, visit http://www.wto.org/english/news_e/spmm_e/spmm74_e.htm.

"WTO reshaped to boost development programme" REUTERS, 14 December 2001; "Organizational changes in the WTO Secretariat" WTO, 14 December 2001.