Towards a New Deal for Global Trade: A Progressive Agenda - A Geneva Perspective

About the Event

The global trading system is navigating a period of intense pressure. Weakening adherence to multilateral rules, rising protectionism, and the structural shifts of climate change and digitalization have created an urgent need for a new policy framework.

In partnership with Joseph Stiglitz and Martín Guzmán, the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES) and the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) have launched an initiative to define the core principles of a progressive trade policy suited to this evolving landscape. Following the introduction of the principles at the High-Level Dialogue on May 5, this workshop served as a dedicated space for senior officials to dive deeper into the practical implications for Geneva.

Participants explored what progressive trade approaches look like from the Geneva perspective, and discussed how they could be advanced, including in the context of reform of the World Trade Organization (WTO). The deliberations will inform a non-attributable policy brief summarizing key insights for the global trade community.

Key themes for discussion included:

• Resilience in crisis: Assessing how the trade system has withstood decades of economic, health, and political shocks.
• Equity and sustainability: Evaluating the system’s success and shortcomings in addressing economic development, environmental goals, and social inclusion.
• The reform agenda: Identifying which elements of a progressive trade policy are most relevant for WTO reform.
• Geneva’s leadership: Defining the role of the Geneva-based community in shaping a trade agenda that addresses digital transformation and global inequality.