Labour Leader Helen Clark today welcomed developments in the World Trade Organisation's quest for a the new director-general.

News reports this morning suggest that an agreement has been reached which would see Labour foreign affairs spokesperson Mike Moore appointed WTO Director-General for three years from September.

"This position is one which Mike is well qualified for, having spent the last 15 years immersed in international trade policy issues.

"His appointment - if confirmed formally later this week - is a tribute to his qualifications for the job and his campaigning skills. At the outset, Mike was candid in saying that he thought he had about a 10 per cent chance. As the months went by, that chance has expanded through to now the strong probability of his appointment," Helen Clark said.

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