Reforming the WTO: Can the G7 give a fresh impetus?

The WTO is in deep crisis regarding all its three pillars – negotiation, monitoring, dispute settlement – and needs fundamental reform. At the same time, the WTO must respond to challenges such as the COVID-19 pandemic, changing frameworks in global trade and competitive distortions, as well as megatrends such as digitalization and climate change.

Against this backdrop, the topic of WTO reform is a key trade policy issue and will be addressed under the German G7 presidency in the first meeting of the Trade Working Group. Our joint webinar with the German Federal Ministry of Economics and Climate Action on 11 March 2022 intended to facilitate input from civil society on this issue.

Introduction: Dominik Schnichels (German Federal Ministry of Economics and Climate Action)

Discussion with: Reinhard Bütikofer (Member of the European Parliament, Green Party), Simon Evenett (University of St. Gallen), Luisa Santos (BusinessEurope) and Claudia Schmucker (German Council on Foreign Relations).

Moderation: Nicola Brandt (OECD)

Webinar Recording:

Further Readings:

Meeting of the G7 trade ministers. Information by the German G7 presidency on the upcoming trade ministers meeting in Berlin on 14/15 September 2022

OECD Trade. Thematic page for the OECD’s work on international trade

WTO reform requires commitment from all its members. Press release by Business Europe (24 November 2021)

Boosting G20 Cooperation for WTO Reform – Leveraging the Full Potential of Plurilateral Initiatives. Policy Brief by Mehmet Sait Akman, Axel Berger, Fabrizio Botti, Andreas Freytag and Claudia Schmucker (September 2021)

The future of WTO: Revitalizing multilateral trade cooperation. Article by Simon J. Evenett (12 January 2021)