The CGD Podcast: Interview with WTO Candidate Alan Kyerematen

Date: March 12, 2013
Host: Lawrence MacDonald (Center for Global Development)
Guest: Alan Kyerematen, Minister of Trade, Ghana

Overview

This episode features an in-depth interview with Alan Kyerematen, then Ghana’s Minister of Trade and a candidate for Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO). The conversation delves into Kyerematen's vision for the WTO, his assessment of the organization’s challenges, and his unique qualifications for the role. Key themes include the importance of strategic leadership, consensus-building among member states, and the need for the WTO to address both traditional and emerging trade issues. Special attention is given to the needs of developing countries and the future direction of the multilateral trading system.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Importance and Current Challenges of the WTO

• WTO’s significance: Kyerematen describes the WTO as a "very important organization, global asset, which has contributed significantly to the expansion of the global economy" and calls it a "firewall against protectionism," emphasizing its role in global economic recovery.
  • "It's a firewall against protectionism, is probably the most powerful instrument for global economic recovery." (B, 01:05)
• Need for new leadership: He asserts that the WTO faces significant challenges and is in need of "new energy" and a leader with "strategic vision."
  • "The organization needs new energy and part of that is to have a new leader who has the strategic vision to lead the organization into the future." (B, 01:35)

2. Kyerematen’s Unique Qualifications

• Technical, managerial, and political experience: He presents his background as a blend of technical expertise (law, economics, policy analysis), management (both public and private sector experience), and political acumen (ministerial and ambassadorial roles, as well as elective office experience).
  • "The combination of technical skills that you require to support the analytical work of the WTO is exactly the kind of technical skills that I have." (B, 02:48)
  • "You also need to have had elective office which then makes you the person who can provide that political guidance." (B, 03:46)

3. The “New Strategic Framework” for Consensus-Building

• Three pillars: Kyerematen proposes a "new strategic framework" for consensus in the WTO, structured around three pillars:
  • Pillar 1: Specific outcomes for Bali – Focus on concrete, realistic agreements at the upcoming Bali ministerial, such as trade facilitation, where members already converge.
    • "The first is to secure very specific concrete outcomes, but realistic outcomes for Bali, which must be based on very specific issues around which currently members have a convergence." (B, 05:57)
  • Pillar 2: Post-Bali strategic roadmap – Develop a clear plan and timeline for concluding the Doha Development Round, focusing on areas of consensus.
    • "The second pillar is defining a post Bali agenda which would include a strategic roadmap to conclude the round." (B, 06:54)
    • "We cannot have this going on in perpetuity." (B, 07:52)
  • Pillar 3: Future direction of the multilateral trading system – Address global changes affecting trade (e.g., value chains, emerging economies, new global dynamics).
    • "There are changes in global dynamics which impact trade... these have to be analyzed and fed into this whole dialogue." (B, 10:10)

4. The Future Agenda: Emerging and Cross-Cutting Issues

• Climate and carbon pricing: The potential introduction of carbon pricing and its trade impacts (e.g., countervailing tariffs) is acknowledged as an important future issue for the WTO.
  • "The whole issue of climate change and how it impacts on development is the subject of major dialogue... it is the connectivity with trade that we are interested in." (B, 13:10)
  • Kyerematen stresses that considering new issues like carbon trading should not signal abandoning core issues like agriculture.
• Other new issues: Currency exchange, the rise of new global powers, energy-trade linkages, and the domestic politics influencing trade policy are noted as emerging priorities for multilateral negotiations.
  • "There are issues relating to currency exchange and how it impacts on trade. There are issues relating to the emergence of new global powers... energy and development... domestic constituencies." (B, 14:52)

5. The Role of the WTO for Small and Developing Countries

• Special and Differential Treatment (SDT): Kyerematen affirms SDT’s role in leveling the playing field but argues it is insufficient on its own.
  • "The provisions that relate to special and differential treatment... were meant to create a level playing field and also give the opportunity of weaker developing countries to participate in global trade." (B, 18:02)
• Empowering firms: He champions support for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in developing countries to link up with global value chains, suggesting development support should go "beyond market access provisions, beyond S and D, beyond preferences."
  • "How do we physically support the private sector in developing countries to become major players in the global trading environment? This is the challenge, major challenge for the development dividend to be realized in the WTO negotiations." (B, 19:08)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On vision for the WTO:
  • "This is a very important organization, global asset, which has contributed significantly to the expansion of the global economy... But there are challenges confronting the organization. The organization needs new energy... a new leader who has the strategic vision to lead the organization into the future." (B, 01:05)
• On candidate qualifications:
  • "If there's one candidate that brings together this unique combination of skills and experience that will respond to the challenges of this job, then in all modesty, I would say that I'm the candidate." (B, 17:08)
• On consensus-building:
  • "This is how members with different interests can come to an understanding that these issues are not mutually exclusive. And as long as they are confident that their issues will be discussed, then they can move together with a common objective and actually sit down and talk to each other." (B, 15:56)
• On SDT:
  • "This is only a necessary condition. It's not a sufficient condition. And we need to have a more robust and dynamic approach to development which will even go beyond S and D treatment." (B, 18:25)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:10–01:48 – Introduction and overview of the WTO’s importance and challenges
• 01:48–04:39 – Kyerematen’s qualifications and vision for WTO leadership
• 05:37–11:39 – The “new strategic framework”: three pillars for WTO revitalization
• 12:31–17:24 – Future issues: climate/carbon, currency, new global powers, domestic politics
• 17:24–19:40 – The WTO’s protective role for smaller/developing countries and beyond-SDT strategies

Conclusion

Alan Kyerematen presents a robust, multidimensional vision for the future of the WTO, grounded in pragmatic consensus-building and an openness to both longstanding and emerging issues. He positions himself as ideally suited for the task, citing his technical, managerial, diplomatic, and political expertise, and he advocates for greater inclusion and real development dividends for poorer nations. His candidacy is defined by the call for a new trade consensus, strategic clarity, and a dynamic, forward-looking agenda for the WTO.