WTO chief Roberto Azevedo to step down on August 31 before term expires

Azevedo said that bringing forward his departure would allow members to select his successor in the coming months

Geneva-based World Trade Organisation (WTO) on Thursday said its chief Roberto Azevedo will  step down on August 31, a year before his term ends, on personal grounds.   India is one of the founder members of this multi-lateral body, which frames rules for global exports and imports. 

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

Azevedo said that bringing forward his departure would allow members to select his successor in the coming