The Scramble for the Markets of the Future: Decarbonization, Trade and Geopolitics

This event is part of the WTO's Public Forum, taking place from 12 to 15 September in person in Geneva, Switzerland. You must register before 17 August to attend, which you can do at the link above. 

Event Description:

Decarbonization and climate change mitigation policies may be the biggest stressors of the overall framework of WTO rules since those rules were agreed. Climate-related trade restrictions, from border carbon adjustment mechanisms to deforestation requirements in supply chains, green subsidies that aim to stake out shares of the markets of the future, and trade agreements securing access to critical minerals are testing the capacities of the multilateral trading system to adjust and reform while making sure that no one is left behind. Geopolitical rivalry and lack of trust means the world’s political environment is making collaboration difficult, and walls are starting to rise together with the shift of values of electorates worldwide. Will we find ways for the multilateral trading system and the climate regime to work together? This session will look into the challenge of international cooperation in this race against the clock.

Speakers:

Moderator: Alice Tipping, Director, Trade and Sustainable Development, IISD

Panel: Aaron Cosbey, Senior Associate, IISD

Henry Gao, Professor of Law, Yong Pung How School of Law, Singapore Management University

Ngan Vu Kim, Lecturer, Faculty of Law, Foreign Trade University, Vietnam

Jonny Peters, Senior Policy Advisor, E3G

Partners:

Foreign Trade University (FTU)

E3G