WTO chief cuts short his second term by one year, to step down on August 31

The World Trade Organisation (WTO) chief Roberto Azevedo on Thursday resigned unexpectedly, amidst the coronavirus pandemic that has affected the world economy, and trade at an unprecedented level.

"At a virtual meeting of all WTO members on May 14, WTO Director-General Roberto Azevedo announced that he would step down on August 31, cutting his second term short by exactly one year," WTO said in a statement.

The 62-year-old Brazilian career diplomat's second four-year term was not scheduled to end until September 2021.

Azevedo said that bringing forward his departure would allow members to select his successor in the coming months, without diverting political