The global trade rulebook is under strain. As governments turn to assertive geoeconomic strategies — from reshoring supply chains to deploying trade as a tool of statecraft — the World Trade Organization (WTO) finds itself at a critical juncture. Can it adapt to a new era of economic power politics?
In this third session of the Bundeskanzler-Helmut-Schmidt-Stiftung (BKHS)'s Inclusive Geoeconomics conversation series, ENSURED's Clara Weinhardt (Maastricht University) and Michal Parízek (Charles University) will explore the complex pathways for reforming the WTO in light of these shifting dynamics. They will delve into how rising economic nationalism, trade weaponisation, and geopolitical rivalries are challenging the WTO’s legitimacy and effectiveness. Can the WTO be re-imagined to accommodate new forms of economic statecraft while safeguarding multilateral cooperation? And how can inclusive and sustainable trade practices be institutionalised amid growing geopolitical fragmentation?
This conversation builds on their recent ENSURED report, “Revitalising and Reforming the World Trade Organization in an Age of Geopolitics”. Their research covers the WTO’s overall efforts towards reform and outlines the space available for institutional transformation and defence of the organisation at large. The study provides an essential backdrop for this session, shedding light on the power struggles and tensions that characterise contemporary trade diplomacy.
The BKHS event is invite-only and will be held under Chatham House Rule.
Photo: Venti Views / Unsplash (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)
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