This Expert Group meeting, organized by TESS and UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD), was the first of a series with a focus on trade, critical minerals, and the clean energy transition, focusing on sustainability, development, and security objectives.
The meeting was held amid rising tensions at the intersection of trade, critical minerals, and the clean energy transition, where growing demand and concentrated supply chains are reshaping global dynamics. It aimed to discuss challenges faced by resource-rich developing countries in leveraging opportunities for value addition and industrialization in the context of constrained policy space and trade fragmentation. Against this backdrop, the meeting provided a dedicated platform for more coherent, trade-focused dialogue on international cooperation.
Objective of the meeting
This Expert Group aims to explore how trade can support resilient supply chains, promote sustainable and inclusive development, and contribute effectively to the global clean energy transition.
Format and participants
The virtual meeting convened a small group of international experts from policy, research, and stakeholder communities to contribute independent, high-level insights. The Expert Group is comprised of trade and mineral policy experts from IGOs, academia, civil society, private sector:
- Jerry Kwame AHADJIE (African Development Bank)
- Jean-Bertrand AZAPMO (African Union)
- Julian CLARKE, Fabio ARTUSO, and Sven CALLEBAUT (Asian Development Bank)
- Silvia COSSA (Global Renewables Alliance)
- Henry GAO (Singapore Management University)
- Poorva KARKARE (European Centre for Development Policy Management)
- Marit Y. KITAW (UN Economic Commission for Africa)
- Soledad MILLS (TDI Sustainability)
- Tom MOERENHOUT (Columbia University School of International and Public Affairs)
- Johann MULDER (UN Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean)
- Anis NASSAR (World Economic Forum)
- Dandy RAFITRANDI (Centre for Strategic and International Studies, Indonesia)
- Reza RAHMADITIO (World Resources Institute Indonesia)
- Sunayana SASMAL (University of Sussex)
- Elisa TONDA and Beatriz FERNANDEZ (UN Environment Programme)
- Harry WARDANA (Institute for International Trade, Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence in Trade and Environment, Adelaide University)
- Matthew WITTENSTEIN (UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific)
- Harikrishnan TULSIDAS (UN Economic Commission for Europe)
- Weihuan ZHOU (University of New South Wales Law & Justice)
Co-organized together with:
