The CGD Podcast: Interview with WTO Candidate Anabel Gonzalez

Date: February 25, 2013
Host: Lawrence MacDonald (Center for Global Development)
Guest: Anabel Gonzalez, Minister of Foreign Trade for Costa Rica, candidate for Director General of the WTO

Episode Overview

This episode features an in-depth interview with Anabel Gonzalez, Costa Rica's Minister of Foreign Trade and a candidate to lead the World Trade Organization (WTO). Gonzalez discusses her motivation for seeking the position, her vision for the WTO’s future, the importance of trade for development (especially for small and developing countries), and key policy challenges facing the organization, including the ongoing Doha Round and the need for modernization to address emerging global issues.

Key Discussion Points

1. Anabel Gonzalez’s Motivation for Candidacy

• Gonzalez is a passionate advocate of trade as a means to promote growth and development, drawing from Costa Rica’s economic transformation as a case in point.
  • "I am a very strong believer in the power of trade to promote growth and development. As a matter of fact, I've seen it work. I've seen it work in my own country..." (B, 00:59)
• Her desire is to contribute to unleashing the power of trade, particularly for developing countries, through a strong WTO.

2. Gonzalez’s Experience with the WTO

• Gonzalez has longstanding ties to the WTO, participating as a negotiator, dispute settler, capacity builder, and director of the WTO’s Agricultural Division.
  • "I've also worked at the WTO. I was the Director of the Agricultural Division for a few years. I've also participated in activating the dispute settlement process to defend Costa Rica's interest. I've also provided trade capacity building to WTO members." (B, 02:33)
• Her breadth of experience gives her insight into both the multilateral and bilateral dimensions of global trade.

3. Value of a Rules-Based WTO for Small Countries

• Gonzalez emphasizes that while the WTO is critical for all countries, it is especially vital for small and medium-sized nations that lack negotiating leverage in bilateral or plurilateral talks.
• Cites a Costa Rican case where their successful use of WTO dispute settlement against the US protected their export interests—a landmark illustration of the organization's importance for smaller countries.
  • "Costa Rica was the first small country to activate the brand new system at the time and in that case against the United States... we activated the system and we won the case..." (B, 04:23)

4. The Doha Round: Prospects and Realism

• Gonzalez acknowledges skepticism about reviving Doha but identifies potential for progress at the upcoming Bali Ministerial, especially around trade facilitation.
  • "We have a great opportunity in front of us in the next ministerial conference... to deliver an agreement on trade facilitation." (B, 07:17)
• She argues that delivering tangible results could reinvigorate confidence in the WTO’s ability to negotiate, and that trade facilitation (simplifying customs and border procedures) is particularly beneficial for developing countries.
• She sees trade facilitation as both a trade and aid agenda, with potential for capacity building, supported through existing national, regional, and multilateral efforts.

5. The Role of Democracy and Membership Diversity in the WTO

• Responding to debates on whether ‘too much democracy’ impedes progress (one country, one vote vs. large-country dominance), Gonzalez advocates for pluralism and flexibility:
  • "With such a wide membership, it is important to look at other formats as possible ways of reaching agreement... it could be other formats such as prelateral agreements or critical mass agreements." (B, 12:09)
• She stresses that all agreements should remain open to all members, but recognizes that different issues may require different modes of decision-making.

6. Over-the-Horizon Issues: Climate, Food, and Beyond

• The future agenda of the WTO, according to Gonzalez, must encompass new and emerging topics such as trade and climate change, food security, investment, and global value chains.
  • "There is no subject that should be taboo for the House of Trade... I think it would be good to promote the dialogue within the WTO on a number of these issues." (B, 15:57)

7. WTO Dispute Adjudication Reform

• Addressing concerns about the independence of WTO judges, Gonzalez expresses broad confidence in the current system, while acknowledging space for improvement.
  • "It is perfectable as everything, but I think overall it is a good system... and I think it is something for the members to consider." (B, 18:06)
• She notes ongoing reform discussions among WTO members and the incremental nature of change.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Trade and Development:
  "Development is very close to my heart. I come from a developing country, and I would like to have the opportunity to continue to work with members in strengthening the organization for the benefit of all members, as I said in the beginning, but certainly for the benefit of developing countries." (B, 19:18)

• On Institutional Adaptability:
  "These are forces that go beyond... the WTO and global trade, if you wish." (B, 12:09)

• On New Issues in Global Trade:
  "There is no subject that should be taboo for the House of Trade..." (B, 15:57)

• On Pluralism and Formats:
  "The political energy to re-energizing the global trading system can come from different, in different formats, I believe." (B, 12:09)

Key Segments & Timestamps

| Time | Topic | |----------|-----------| | 00:10 | Introduction and guest welcome | | 00:55 | Motivation for candidacy and power of trade | | 02:18 | Entry into WTO work and broader experience | | 03:48 | Importance of rules-based system, especially for small countries | | 06:35 | Doha Round: potential, trade facilitation, skepticism | | 09:05 | Defining and defending trade facilitation; aid-for-trade dynamic | | 11:11 | Democracy vs. large countries’ role; organization’s changing membership | | 14:35 | Over-the-horizon agendas: climate, food, investment, value chains | | 17:12 | WTO dispute adjudication and judicial independence | | 19:05 | Closing thoughts: importance for developing countries, vision as Director General |

Summary of Tone and Takeaways

Gonzalez is articulate and optimistic, balancing realistic assessments of institutional inertia with faith in the WTO’s capacity for renewal and reform. Her advocacy for inclusivity, flexibility, and relevance in the face of new challenges comes through strongly. She repeatedly returns to the idea that the WTO is indispensable for both large and small states—especially developing ones—and that future leadership must both respect tradition and embrace innovation.

For listeners interested in the evolution of global trade governance and the practical challenges of multilateralism, this episode offers valuable insight from a practitioner with deep-rooted experience and a development-centered outlook.