Students from various cities gathered to explore the World Trade Organization's (WTO) role in global trade during a recent event aimed at demystifying the subject. The event featured three panel discussions where students engaged with leaders and experts, gaining insights into the multilateral trading system's challenges and opportunities while sharing their perspectives on its future.
The conference began with a high-level panel titled “Why the WTO matters.” It included WTO Deputy Director-General Johanna Hill, Ambassador Sofía Boza Martínez of Chile, and Dmitry Grozoubinski, Executive Director of the Geneva Trade Platform. Moderated by WTO Young Professional Samah Al Rawahi, this panel discussed the WTO’s significance in a changing global environment and its function as a research hub.
The second panel, “Trade and...,” focused on how trade intersects with inclusivity, gender equality, and environmental sustainability. Panelists included Ambassador Nadia Theodore of Canada, Senior Advisor to the WTO Director-General Stephen Fevrier, and Kimberley Botwright, Head of Sustainable Trade at the World Economic Forum. The discussion was moderated by WTO Counsellor Javier Gutiérrez. They shared insights on how trade and the WTO can contribute to addressing key global priorities.
The final panel titled “The Real Deal — Bringing the WTO to the Present” addressed ongoing negotiations on fisheries subsidies, agriculture, and digital trade. Participants were Amy Stuart from the Australian Mission to the WTO, Sainabou Taal, Head of Fisheries Subsidies at the WTO, and Edwini Kessie, Director of Agriculture and Commodities Division at the WTO. This session was moderated by WTO Communications Officer Melissa Begag. The panelists discussed efforts to address pressing global issues through innovative policy frameworks.