G20-TIRN is a cross-country, independent, network of trade and investment policy researchers whose shared goal is to provide substantive, research-backed analysis to support G20 leaders’ deliberations. The German Development Institute / Deutsches Institut für Entwicklungspolitik (DIE) is a founding member of TIRN.

The webinar discusses key recommendations for the G20 in support of WTO reform. Discord among members over a variety of issues, including dispute settlement, the role of development or the launch of new trade initiatives, as well as increased trade tensions paralyzed the WTO to effectively realize its main functions in support of multilateral cooperation and sustainable development. For long it has been argued that the WTO needs to be reformed. Despite several reform proposals that have been tabled by stakeholders, the multilateral trading system remains at a critical junction.

The event is aimed at presenting proposals on WTO reform raised by several leading experts in the context of the T20 Italy process. The webinar provide a platform for results-oriented discussions among academia, policy makers and other stakeholders to discuss the WTO reform proposals prior to T20 Trade Ministers Meeting in October 2021.

The webinar will have the following agenda and speakers:

Welcome Address

• Pier Carlo Padoan, Vice President, IAI and T20 Lead Co-Chair TF3 “Trade, Investment and Growth”
• Sait Akman, Director for G20 Studies Center, The Economic Policy Research Foundation of Turkey (TEPAV), Steering Committee member of TIRN (Trade and Investment Research Network)

Key Reccomendations for the G20

Boosting G20 cooperation for WTO reform: Leveraging the full potential of plurilateral initiatives

• Claudia Schmucker, Head, Geo-Economics Program, German Council on Foreign Relations, DGAP:

Confronting “Deglobalization” in the Multilateral Trading System

• Carlos Primo Braga, Adjunct Professor, Fundação Dom Cabral:

Trade and development in the WTO: Toward a constructive approach to the issue of development status and special & differential treatment

• Xinquan Tu, Executive Dean and Professor, China Institute for WTO Studies, University of International Business & Economics, UIBE:

Reflections from G20 Policy Makers

• Nicola Faganello, Deputy Director General for the European Union and Director for International Trade Policy, Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation; Chair G20 Trade and Investment Working Group
• Anabel González, Deputy-Director General, World Trade Organization (WTO)

Moderator

• Axel Berger, Senior Researcher and Head of G20 Policy Research Group, German Development Institute / Deutsches Institut für Entwicklungspolitik (DIE), Steering Committee member of TIRN (Trade and Investment Research Network)