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Trade experts travel to Salzburg to consider new dynamics in global trade architecture

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Salzburg Global Seminar hosts program on the future of the WTO, G20 and regional trade agreements

SALZBURG, AUSTRIA, April 25, 2014 – The World Trade Organization (WTO) managed a last minute deal in Bali, but with “megaregional” trade agreements like the TransPacific Partnership and Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership under negotiation, it’s clear that new dynamics are emerging in the global trade architecture and the centrality of the WTO is wavering.

This coming Wednesday, 50 top-level policy makers and practitioners from across the trade spectrum will arrive in Salzburg, Austria to consider the future of global trade at the three-day event “New Dynamics in Global Trade Architecture: WTO, G20 and Regional Agreements” (April 30-May 2, 2014).

Hosted by the independent non-profit organization Salzburg Global Seminar, the event will aim to critically assess the Bali WTO summit’s outcomes to identify future options and renew international momentum for the multilateral trading system, as well as analyze the impact of large-scale regional trade agreements on the multilateral trade framework, including the TransPacific Partnership and the proposed Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP).

With Australia hosting the G20 Presidency, particular interest will be paid to what role the country can play in defining a role for the G20 in the global trade landscape. The event will also consider how to engage key countries in the Asia-Pacific Basin and Global South to ensure more inclusive leadership on global trade governance.

The program will include government and business leaders involved in large-scale trade deals, including those seeking to secure WTO-level progress; WTO directors at G20 Ministries of Commerce/Trade (with priority placed on the inclusion of middle sized economies concerned about a level global playing field); leading academics and researchers; and representatives from the International Chamber of Commerce.

Through expert, interactive panel discussions, together with intensive group work, these high-level participants will formulate a set of recommendations that will be presented by session chair, James Bacchus, at the upcoming OECD Forum in Paris (May 5-6, 2014).

This session continues Salzburg Global’s program on sustainable global economy and governance and builds on its 2012 session, “The Future of the Multilateral Trading System and the WTO”. This session also launches a partnership with the Korean Development Institute’s School of Public Policy and Management and its G20 Global Leadership Program, as it critically examines the WTO’s role in upholding the global public good of multilateral trade and explores how country motivations and trade mechanisms can be better integrated within the WTO architecture for effective programming.

Participants and speakers for event include:

  • James Bacchus, Chair, World Economic Forum's Global Agenda Council on Governance for Sustainability; Former Chair, Appellate Body, WTO
  • Miriam Chaves, Deputy Permanent Representative of Argentina to the WTO
  • Nicolle Graugnard, Policy Manager for Trade and Investment, International Chamber of Commerce
  • Thomas Jürgensen, Counsellor, Directorate for General Trade, European Commission
  • Treasure Maphanga, Director for Trade and Industry, African Union Commission
  • Ricardo Melendez-Ortiz, Executive Director, International Centre for Trade and Sustainable Development
  • Robert Owen-Jones, Assistant Secretary, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Australia
  • Peter Rashish, Senior Advisor for Europe and Transatlantic Trade, European Policy Centre
  • Joel Rathus, Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet of Australia
  • Keith Rockwell, Director of Information and External Affairs, WTO
  • Raed Safadi, Deputy Director, Trade and Agriculture Division, OECD
  • Ganeshan Wignaraja, Director of Research, Asian Development Bank Institute

An expanded list of speakers and participants as well as a full program agenda can be found here: www.salzburgglobal.org/go/533

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Note to Editors:

Journalists interested in attending the session in full or in part, or arranging individual interviews with the session’s speakers or participants should contact:

Thomas Biebl, Director of Communications: Tel +43 (662) 83 9 830

Email: tbiebl@salzburgglobal.org

Further information can be found at: www.salzburgglobal.org/go/533

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Upcoming events: www.salzburgglobal.org/go/2014program  

About Salzburg Global Seminar

Since 1947, Salzburg Global Seminar has brought more than 30,000 participants from 160 countries for over 500 sessions at Schloss Leopoldskron, Salzburg, to fulfill its mission: to challenge present and future leaders to solve issues of global concern.

Originally founded in 1947 to encourage the revival of intellectual dialogue in post-war Europe, the independent non-profit organization hosts international strategic convening and multi-year programs on critical issues in education, health, environment, economics, governance, peace-building and more. 

Tags:

Australia Europe trade G20 BALI World Economic Forum Public Policy Foreign Affairs Global South WTO Salzburg Global Seminar global trade architecture global trade governance regional trade WTO architecture G20 Presidency G20 Global Leadership G20 Ministries James Bacchus World Trade Organization multilateral trading system multilateral trade International Chamber OECD Forum Appellate Body Korean Development Institute

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Quick facts

In collaboration with the Korea Development Institute, this program will build on Salzburg Global's longstanding program focused on global economic challenges and governance. Following the Bali WTO Summit on the Doha Round and the anticipated completion of the TransPacific Partnership, the program will provide a neutral setting to advance five strategic goals: Critically assess the Bali WTO summit's outcomes to identify future options and renew international momentum for the multilateral trading system; Catalyze issue leadership to propose a strategic roadmap that can nimbly address critical challenges as they emerge; Analyze the impact of large-scale regional trade agreements on the multilateral trade framework, including the TransPacific Partnership and the proposed Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP); Leverage G20 input through Australian participation early in its G20 Presidency, to help define a role for the G20 in the global trade landscape; and Engage key countries in the Asia-Pacific Basin and Global South for inclusive leadership on trade governance. The program will include government and business leaders involved in large-scale trade deals, including those seeking to secure WTO-level progress; WTO directors at G20 Ministries of Commerce/Trade (with priority placed on the inclusion of middle sized economices concerned about a level global playing field); leading academics and researchers; the International Chamber of Commerce; as well as globally influential journalists. Commissioned papers will be circulated to participants ahead of the meeting to provide a springboard for debate.
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