Yesterday Erwin’s ministry poured cold water on the speculation, even though conjecture is rife in Parliament that Erwin may ultimately be replaced by Minerals and Energy Minister Phumzile MlamboNgcuka.
The current WTO director-general is Thailand’s Supachai Panitchnakdi, who is expected to retire from the post after his three-year term expires next year.
Trade and industry spokeswoman Pamela Moeng said she had received a response from the minister’s office “indicating that he has not been contacted and this was not true”.
The authoritative journal Foreign Affairs, published by US-based Council for Foreign Relations, described Erwin as “a favourite to become the next director-general of the WTO”.
The US-based body is a nonprofit and nonpartisan membership organisation.
Its website describes the body as being “dedicated to improving the understanding of US foreign policy and international affairs through the free exchange of ideas”.
The site also says that its 3400 members include “nearly all past and present presidents, state secretaries, defence and treasury officials and other senior US government officials”.
The South African trade and industry minister is mentioned in the council’s journal in an article “Don’t Cry for Cancun”, authored by Jagdish Bhagwati, University professor at Columbia University, and Andre Meyer, senior fellow at the council, in its January/February 2004 edition
The article describes the world trade talks in Cancun, Mexico last year as both a failure and a success a failure because no agreement was reached.
In arguing that Cancun was “a stepping-stone” for a successful conclusion of the Doha round of trade negotiations, the article notes SA’s strong stance on agricultural subsidies in Europe and the US, and Erwin’s detailed account of the failure of Cancun.
(I-Net Bridge)
