GENEVA, Feb 8: A Norwegian diplomat on Wednesday took the helm of World Trade Organization talks that are trying to deliver a treaty to tear down barriers to commerce by the end of this year.

Eirik Glenne, Oslo’s ambassador to the World Trade Organization, was chosen unanimously at a meeting of its 149 trading nation members to steer the organization’s ruling General Council. Glenne replaced Kenya’s trade ambassador Amina Mohamed, who held the annual post in 2005.—AFP