Factbox: Who's bidding to be next World Trade Organization chief?

FILE PHOTO: A sign is pictured in front of the chair of the Director General before the start of the General Council of the World Trade Organization (WTO) in Geneva, Switzerland, July 22, 2020. REUTERS/Denis Balibouse/File Photo

GENEVA/BRUSSELS (Reuters) - World Trade Organization members are considering five candidates to replace Brazil's Roberto Azevedo, who stepped down as director-general on Aug. 31, a year early.

The new WTO chief will need to steer reform and negotiations in the face of rising protectionism, a deep recession caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and growing trade tensions, notably between the United States and China.