Azevêdo, WTO’s chief cheerleader, says the ‘effective’ system ‘has delivered’

“By any objective measure,” World Trade Organization Director-General Roberto Azevêdo said in his opening message at the WTO’s Buenos Aires ministerial, “the multilateral trading system has delivered.” In an upbeat appraisal of a system that some consider under siege, Azevêdo spoke of “a huge display of commitment” to multilateralism and a system of “effective, functioning, vibrant multilateralism. ” He unabashedly styled himself “relentless in beating the drum for the system.” Others obviously are less sanguine. U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer,...