Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Australia to the World Trade Organization

Today we announce the appointment of Mr James Baxter as Australia's next Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Australia to the World Trade Organization (WTO) in Geneva.

The WTO is an international forum where 164 Members determine global trade rules and agreements, as well as resolve trade disputes when they arise.

Australia plays a leadership role in the WTO and is working to update the rules and reinvigorate the negotiating function to better respond to contemporary challenges in global trade.

We are working with other Members to deliver a substantive reform package at the upcoming 13th WTO Ministerial Conference (MC13).

Mr Baxter is a senior career officer with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and was most recently First Assistant Secretary, Office of Global Trade Negotiations. He has previously served overseas as Deputy Head of Mission, Australian Permanent Mission to the WTO in Geneva and in Belgium and Japan.

We thank outgoing Ambassador and Permanent Representative George Mina for his contributions to advancing Australia's interests in the WTO since 2020.