The World Trade Organisation on Thursday night completed its latest round of consultations on the two remaining contenders--Uruguay's Carlos Pérez del Castillo and France's Pascal Lamy--for director-general. The result, which may still not be conclusive if there are strong objections from countries to one candidate, should emerge over the next few days.

The new boss will take over in late summer after the end-July deadline for assessing progress in the current Doha round of trade liberalisation talks.