2022 part2

61/ Virtual event on global trade outlook concludes for Asia-Pacific parliamentarians

12 MAY 2022

Over 35 parliamentarians and their staff from 17 countries in the Asia-Pacific region took part in a virtual event on the global trade outlook organized by the WTO with the Rajaratnam School for International Studies (RSIS) in Singapore and the TEMASEK Foundation on 10-12 May. Opening remarks were delivered by the Speaker of the Singapore Parliament, Mr Tan Chuan-Jin, and WTO Deputy Director-General Angela Ellard.

Mr Tan Chuan-Jin highlighted the role of parliamentarians in the current global crises. He said: “We must shore up domestic support for the WTO and international trade at a time when anti-globalisation sentiments and protectionism threaten to reverse the benefits that trade liberalisation has delivered to our constituents.” His full speech is available here.

DDG Angela Ellard discussed the state of play in the negotiations ahead of the 12th Ministerial Conference to be held on 12-15 June and the impact of the war in Ukraine on the global trade outlook. She emphasized the need to re-engage with international institutions and called on parliamentarians to help the WTO achieve balanced outcomes. Her full remarks are available here.

Participating in the event for the last time as Director of the WTO’s Information and External Relations Division (IERD), Keith Rockwell chaired a panel of Geneva-based ambassadors entitled “What’s ahead for the WTO? MC12 and beyond”. Ambassadors Li Chenggang of China, Brajendra Navnit of India, Tan Hung Seng of Singapore and David Bisbee of the United States took part in the debate.

Two other sessions with Asia-Pacific MPs were moderated by Professor Alan Chong from RSIS and Said El Hachimi from the WTO Secretariat. They looked into “The Global Economy in a Post COVID-19, Climate Concerned Era” and “Pacific Perspectives on The Global Economy in a Post-COVID Era — Stakeholders’ Views”.

Both sessions included interventions from high-level panellists, such as the APEC Executive Director, Dr Rebecca Fatima Sta Maria, the Secretary General of the Inter-Parliamentary Union, H.E. Martin Chungong, the Ambassador of Honduras to the WTO, H.E. Dacio Castillo, the Executive Director of the European Institute for Environmental Policy, Ms Céline Charveriat, and the World Bank Country Director for China, Korea and Mongolia, Mr Martin Raiser.

The session on stakeholders’ views included representatives from the Singapore Business Federation, OCBC Bank, Google and UPS Asia Pacific operations.

The dialogue is the continuation of over a decade of collaboration with partners in Singapore and has become the leading outreach event for the WTO with parliamentarians from the Asia-Pacific region.

The next edition will be held in 2023 in person if conditions permit.

Source: wto.org