Breaking: Phil Hogan, Ireland's EU commissioner, has withdrawn from the contest to be the next WTO director-general
2/ Mr Hogan has cited the busy trade agenda at EU level, including the Brexit negotiations, and the risk that the election of a new director-general could drift well into the autumn as reasons for not putting his name forward
3/ In a statement Mr Hogan said: "I have decided that I will not be putting my name forward for the position of Director-General of the World Trade Organisation. I have informed the President of the Commission today.
4/ "In consultation [with] and [the] approval of [Commission] President Von Der Leyen, I will return to my duties of Trade Commissioner with immediate effect.
5/ "We will work together to implement our important work programme on behalf of our EU Citizens as well as implementing our Trade Agenda with renewed vigour."
6/ Mr Hogan said the need for an independent referee in world trade had been more pressing than at any time since the foundation of the GATT in 1947
7/ "So a new DG of the WTO should be appointed without delay. However in recent days it has become evident that the original timeline for this appointment in early Sep 2020 will be delayed + therefore create uncertainty in the leadership of the organisation at this critical time
8/ Mr Hogan said the EU's priorities remained the post Covid 19 economic recovery plan, tackling what he called the "escalation of trade rhetoric and the unnecessary imposition of tariffs on EU goods by the USA..."
9/ He added that a level playing field with China as part of the negotiations towards an Investment Agreement in 2020 "is essential for EU companies". Also, "the recent confirmation of the ambitious October 2020 timeline for the Brexit negotiations will require our attention."
10/ A further priority he said would be the "implementation and enforcement of our EU Free Trade Agreements in 76 countries around the world [which] requires new impetus for EU businesses and stakeholders."
