The World Trade Organization (WTO) will make an announcement Thursday about its Director-General Roberto Azevedo, a spokesman said, following reports that he is planning to step down before the end of his term next year. 

The Director-General of WTO Roberto Azevedo intends to step down before his term ends in 2021, Bloomberg has reported citing four people familiar with the matter.

The 62-year-old Brazilian is the sixth chief of the organization. He has been the WTO's director-general since September 2013 and his second four-year term started in September 2017, according to the WTO website.

It's possible that one of Azevedo's four deputy directors-general could serve as interim caretaker until his term ends next year. They are Yonov Frederick Agah of Nigeria, Karl Brauner of Germany, Alan Wolff of the United States and Yi Xiaozhun of China.

(With input from AFP)