Former European Union Trade Commissioner Pascal Lamy, from France, was selected to head the World Trade Organization.

Pascal Lamy, former European Union (EU) commissioner for trade was set to become the next head of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) Friday after Carlos Perez del Castillo of Uruguay, Lamy's only remaining rival, withdrew from the race to lead the world trade body. ”I would like to congratulate Pascal Lamy and to wish him the best of luck in his job ahead. I accept the result. I have requested my government to withdraw my candidacy,” said Perez del Castillo, a former ambassador to the Geneva-based trade organisation, and chairman of the organisation's general council, which oversees the work of the WTO.

A formal decision on giving Lamy the job will be made May 26.

Lamy, a 58-year-old Frenchman who cites jogging, tennis and cycling as his hobbies, ended a five-year stint as the European Union (EU) commissioner for trade last November.. Before that, he was number two at the French bank Credit Lyonnais SA.

With a budget of 102 million euros (130 million dollars) and 600 staff, Lamy will be responsible for overseeing global rules governing trade between nations.

One of his first tasks as the new chief will be to push for a conclusion of the Doha Development Round (DDR) of global trade negotiations due to be wrapped up in 2006.

Lamy will help guide the WTO at its next ministerial conference in Hong Kong in December which is due to approve a draft deal on eliminating trade barriers aiming at helping poor countries compete on more equal terms on world markets.

The Doha round of trade talks were launched in Doha in Qatar in 2001. The WTO had hoped to complete the talks by the end of 2004, but the talks are months behind schedule.

In an interview with the French financial newspaper La Tribune Thursday (May 12), Lamy said concluding the Doha round of trade talks should be priority for the WTO ”because it is clear that it (Doha) will not be concluded unless the developing countries, which account for two thirds of WTO members, are satisfied with the results.”

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