The reform of the WTO and the challenges of global trade governance

Structural transformations of global trade patterns, persistent protectionist tendencies and growing geopolitical tensions have undermined the main functions of the World Trade Organization (WTO), eroding its rule-making role and paralysing its dispute settlement system. As a result, the international debate over the reform of the WTO has intensified in recent years. The impact of Covid-19 pandemic on world trade and the lack of coordination in policy responses have further highlighted the need to improve the global trade architecture.

The web meeting will discuss the role of the G20 in promoting the WTO reform and in shaping the future of global trade governance at the time of Covid-19. A paper by Axel Berger and Clara Brandi of the German Development Institute (DIE) on the reform of the WTO will be presented and discussed. The web meeting will take place in the framework of the project “The role of the G20 in promoting global governance: challenges and opportunities of the Italian Presidency in 2021”, funded by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MAECI) and the Compagnia di San Paolo.

Programme

Welcome address
Armando Barucco, Head of Analysis and Planning Unit, Maeci
Ettore Greco, Executive Vice President, IAI

Speakers
Clara Brandi, Senior Researcher, German development Institute (DIE), Berlin
Sait Akman, Senior Research Fellow, The Economic Policy Research Foundation of Turkey (TEPAV), Ankara
Marco Felisati, Deputy Director Internationalization and Trade Policy, Confindustria
Giorgia Giovannetti, Full Professor, Università degli Studi di Firenze

Chair
Fabrizio Botti, Senior Fellow, IAI

Conclusions
Pier Carlo Padoan, Vice President, IAI