The French official looks certain to be appointed as WTO secretary general after a selection committee recommended him for the post and Carlos Perez del Castillo of Uruguay, his only opponent, pulled out of the race.

Lamy, speaking at a meeting of Caribbean trade ministers in the Guyanan capital, refused to comment on Perez del Castillo's decision to withdraw but said he would strive to seek a consensus on "sensitive" issues such as agriculture, on which he took a tough line when representing Europe.

Agriculture was one of the areas that have bitterly divided nations at trade liberalisation talks and Europe has regularly been criticised by trade rivals over its huge farm subsidies, which analysts say have kept international prices low.