Representatives of countries in the European Union have approved the choice of Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala for the position of director-general of the World Trade Organisation (WTO). The approval was given by the European Union General Assembly. At present, the eight candidates that expressed interest in the WTO job have been reduced to five candidates by WTO member countries. The second phase of consultations which began on September 24 will end in October. During this time, members will be asked in the confidential consultations to express two preferences to the facilitators thus reducing the number of candidates from five to two. Other candidates in the race are Amina C. Mohamed of Kenya, Mohammad Maziad Al-Tuwaijri of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Liam Fox of the United Kingdom. Jesus Seade Kuri of Mexico, Tudor Ulianovschi of Moldova and Abdel-Hamid Mamdouh of Egypt were eliminated from the process. It is expected that the next WTO DG will be announced on November 7.