The main theme of the Forum is the impact of COVID-19 on trade and how the multilateral trading system can help build resilience to the pandemic and future crises. The Forum's sub-themes are “Enhancing Resilience beyond COVID-19”, “Strengthening the Multilateral Trading System” and “Collective Action towards Sustainable Trade”.
Trade has an important role in the response to COVID-19 – not least in scaling up vaccine production - as well as in supporting economic recovery and efforts to prepare more effectively for future pandemics. The Forum will bring together representatives of governments, the private sector, civil society, academics, consumers and students to consider how the trading system can help countries further develop this resilience. Participants will discuss the role of trade at a time of crisis and how the WTO can be strengthened to tackle the issues of the 21st century, increasingly characterised by rapid technological change, knowledge-driven economies, global environmental issues and growing consumer influence on the production of goods.
The Forum will look into how a reform agenda can rebuild confidence in the trading system and deliver positive results for developing and least-developed countries. It will examine how to integrate women, youth and small businesses into the global economy and how updated trade rules can help to raise living standards and reduce poverty. In addition, it will look at how reform of the WTO will require governments, multilateral institutions, the private sector and civil society to work together to ensure that the future trading system promotes sustainable trade and supports the protection of the environment.
ECA side events
Working Session: “Designing digital trade provisions in the AfCFTA: Lessons from existing trade agreements”
Date: 30 September 2021
Time: 16:30 to 17:30 Geneva time (GMT+2)
Working Session: “Achieving resilience through climate compatible trade: Aligning Africa’s green recovery and the implementation agenda of the African Continental Free Trade Area”
Date: 1 October 2021
Time: 11:30-12:30 Geneva time (GMT+2)
Interpretation: English, French and Spanish
Working Session: “Building resilient and sustainable regional and global value chains through the AfCFTA”
Date: 1 October 2021
Time: 13:30-14:30 Geneva time (GMT+2)
Interpretation: English, French and Spanish
Register now: https://wtopf21.org/110/participation_form (deadline 27 September 2021)