About
The 2022 Trade and Sustainability Hub took place from June 13 to 15 alongside the World Trade Organization (WTO)'s Twelfth Ministerial Conference (MC12). It consisted of an opening plenary followed by three virtual thematic round tables focused on some of the most pressing trade issues in the runup to MC12 and beyond.
For those in Geneva, we provided a space to meet, follow the round tables in screening rooms, and network in person.
Agenda
Monday, June 13, 2022
12:00 P.M.– 1:00 P.M. CEST
Lunch (available at International Environment House 2)
1:00 P.M. – 2:15 P.M. CEST
Opening Plenary | Navigating a Perfect Storm at the WTO
Session Organizers
International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD); CUTS International, Geneva; Paris School of International Affairs; African Union
Description
As global supply chains continue to face relentless disruptive forces—including the effects of the pandemic, the food security crisis, rising geopolitical tensions, and the damaging effects of climate change—people are questioning the value of globalization and whether globalized trade can survive the effects of such forces.
This session examined how international trade is changing and considered what the implications are for the multilateral system—and notably, its relationship to the sustainable development agenda. It considered how the changes affect developing and least developed countries in particular as they grapple with life-threatening challenges such as food and health supply shortages.
2:15 P.M. – 2:30 P.M. CEST
Coffee (available at International Environment House 2)
2:30 P.M. – 3:30 P.M. CEST
Round Table One | How Can WTO Rules Better Prevent and Mitigate Food Crises?
Session Organizers
IISD; Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy; International Food Policy Research Institute
Description
World hunger increased significantly during the COVID-19 pandemic, as nearly 193 million people faced acute food insecurity in 2021—a jump of 40 million compared to 2020. The ongoing war in Ukraine has compounded this global food crisis, contributing to skyrocketing food prices. In April 2022, the FAO Food Price Index increased by almost 30% from the previous year. MC12 is an opportunity for WTO members to take steps to make the global trading system better able to deal with food crises.
This round table discussed the role of the WTO in the prevention and mitigation of food crises. It sought to identify the MC12 agriculture negotiation areas that are most relevant for the food security of WTO members; gaps in the WTO agriculture negotiations that are a priority for the food security of WTO members; and opportunities for cooperation between the WTO and other international organizations to increase the global food system's resilience to crises—to both limit the occurrence of food crises and mitigate their effects when they occur.
3:30 P.M. – 4:00 P.M. CEST
Coffee (available at International Environment House 2)
Tuesday, June 14, 2022
11:15 A.M. – 12:15 P.M. CEST
Partner Session | International Legal Dimensions of Russia’s War Against Ukraine
Session Organizer
Queen's University
Description
The war in Ukraine has played out not just on the battlefield—with disastrous consequences for the lives of millions of people—but also in international legal squabbles, from the WTO to the International Court of Justice and the European Court of Human Rights. These legal conflicts have intensified and broadened into a larger confrontation between Russia and the West.
In this in-person session, Ukrainian legal experts analyzed the international legal dimensions of the conflict, from the sanctions and countersanctions employed by the West and Russia to the legal implications of the extensive energy infrastructure connecting Russia, Ukraine, and Western Europe, and the role of the international courts and institutions in which the conflict plays out.
12:15 P.M. – 1:15 P.M. CEST
Lunch (available at International Environment House 2)
1:30 P.M. – 3:00 P.M. CEST
Round Table Two | Trade in the Race to Preserve the Environment
Session Organizers
IISD; Forum on Trade, Environment and the SDGs; UN Environment Programme; The Pew Charitable Trusts; Shridath Ramphal Centre at the University of the West Indies; Institute for European Environmental Policy; Council on Energy, Environment and Water
Description
Environmental issues are no longer at the periphery of trade policy—they are now an integral part of discussions on the future of international cooperation on trade. Trade policy is being asked to help facilitate the decarbonization of industries and economies, enable adaptation to climate change, support the reduction of plastic pollution, protect biodiversity, and help curb overfishing.
Diverse trade policy instruments have been used in efforts to respond to these demands, but the immediacy of environmental challenges has also spurred real change in WTO practice—from the negotiation of rules on subsidies that lead to overfishing, to the creation of several informal dialogue processes among WTO members. Trade and environment communities have started joint conversations about their respective roles in reaching shared sustainability objectives.
In this session, ministers representing three key environment-related initiatives at the WTO presented the progress achieved in each area. Following this, a stakeholder round table looked across the range of environmental challenges facing the planet and considered how well the multilateral trading system is responding—or not—to the urgency of these challenges.
3:00 P.M. – 3:15 P.M. CEST
Coffee (available at International Environment House 2)
3:15 P.M. – 4:00 P.M. CEST
Session Organizer
Queen's University; IISD
Description
After several years of near-constant upheaval in international economic relations, a new approach to trade policy is taking shape: multipurpose trade policy. This approach no longer prioritizes building an efficient international division of labour through trade liberalization but instead tries to use trade policies to directly achieve other substantive policy objectives, including lifting up workers, addressing inequality, building resilient supply chains, safeguarding national security, and advancing climate objectives.
What are the implications of the shift toward multipurpose trade policy for international trade cooperation? This in-person session featured a conversation between Nathalie Bernasconi-Osterwalder and Nicolas Lamp, whose recent book (co-authored with Anthea Roberts), Six Faces of Globalization: Who Wins, Who Loses, and Why It Matters, lays out the competing narratives about economic globalization that are informing the shift to multipurpose trade policy.
Wednesday, June 15, 2022
12:00 P.M.– 1:00 P.M. CEST
Lunch (available at International Environment House 2)
1:00 P.M. – 2:00 P.M. CEST
Round Table Three | Digitalization and E-Commerce: New prospects for tackling inequality?
Session Organizers
IISD; CUTS International, Geneva
Description
As a result of the digital revolution, e-commerce is increasingly becoming the central channel through which global economic activity takes place. However, not everyone has equal access to digital infrastructure and digital knowledge. There is therefore a risk that certain segments of the population, as well as poorer countries, lose out on opportunities to participate in and benefit from the digital economy. This may result in growing inequalities not only within a country but also between countries.
This round table explored how the digital divide leads to digital inequalities and impacts e-commerce development and governance. It also examined how the digital divide is addressed in recent trade agreements and WTO negotiations: Do they go far enough to promote inclusive e-commerce? And what more can be done?
2:00 P.M. – 3:00 P.M. CEST
Coffee (available at International Environment House 2)
In-person activities
Thank you for joining us at International Environment House 2, 7 Chemin Balexert, 1219 Geneva! A viewing room was set up for those interested in following the virtual round tables at our premises. We also offered a space to network with sandwiches, coffee, and snacks from 12 p.m. till 4 p.m. CEST each day. In addition, our partners at Queen’s University hosted two sessions for in-person attendees on Tuesday, June 14.