The New Zealand Government has nominated Trade Minister Tim Groser for the role of Director-General of the World Trade Organisation, the top job in world trade.
WTO Director-General Pascal Lamy of France steps down in May after nearly eight years in the role.
If successful, Mr Groser would become the second New Zealander to hold the top job after former prime minister Mike Moore.
He would face an uphill challenge to break years of deadlock in the Doha round of trade talks aimed at scrapping barriers to international trade.
Before entering politics Mr Groser was a top-ranking official at the WTO's Geneva headquarters.