WTO head has 'no indication' Trump will quit trade body

By Fatih Erel

GENEVA

The head of the World Trade Organization said on Thursday he saw no indications that U.S. President-elect Donald Trump would pull America out from the WTO.

Speaking in Geneva, WTO Director-General Roberto Azevedo said: "I have not had any indication from anybody that would be the case."

Trump has described the WTO a "disaster" and suggested the U.S. could withdraw from the Geneva-based global trading body.

The President-elect has already indicated he will pull the U.S. out of a number of other international trade agreements.

"l think at this point in time what we have to do is to be ready for conversation," Azevedo said.

"The WTO can continue to be a very important partner of the U.S...in the task of seeking a more dynamic growth environment globally," he added.

When asked if he had spoken to Trump after the election, Azevedo said: "l have not talked to him. l am ready to talk whenever they are ready to do that."