Ambassador Alfredo Suescum alfaro

Ambassador Suescum is Panama’s Ambassador to the WTO, UNCTAD, and WIPO in Geneva since July 2009, and before from 1997-2002. Ambassador Suescum has also represented Panama as Deputy Representative in the UN Security Council in 2007-2008.Ambassador Suescum is currently Chair of the TRIPS Council in the Special Session at the WTO, and of the Coordination Committee at WIPO. He has additionally served as chair or vice-chair of many of the principal bodies at the three organizations, including the Trade and Development Board of UNCTAD, its highest body. He presided over the negotiations for the extension of the Least Developed Country exemption from TRIPS agreement obligations until 2021, chaired negotiations for the UNCTAD XIV Ministerial document, and the Spanish language drafting of the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement, among other achievements.In addition, he served for seven years as Chief Legal Counsel to the Embassy of Panama in Washington, DC. As a consultant, Ambassador Suescum has advised governments and private trade organizations on topics such as WTO accession, IP, negotiating trade agreements and rules, dispute resolution, and training for participation in trade policy development.