The Opening Plenary for Geneva Trade Week 2026 brought together a diverse group of Geneva-based ambassadors to the WTO and leading international experts to share their views on the most pressing priorities for trade and sustainability, what an inclusive, proactive agenda could look like, and how to advance the collective action vital for rapid impact at scale. 

While recognizing the backdrop of trade instability and geopolitical challenges, the panel sought to focus attention on both the urgency of sustainability challenges and the range of opportunities for trade and trade-related policies to advance concrete outcomes that benefit people and planet. Amidst ongoing discussions on WTO reform, speakers reflected on the importance of sustainable development as a much-needed North Star for reform discussions.

The following questions guided the discussion: 

• What kinds of policies, rules, and strategies are needed to ensure the international trading system contributes to addressing urgent sustainable development priorities and environmental crises? 
• How do we move from talk to action? What are the greatest opportunities for trade cooperation to accelerate action, and what kinds of outcomes and approaches warrant consideration?
• How can we build systematically on the trade and sustainability success stories and lessons that exist?
• How can the WTO contribute proactively to sustainability outcomes, and what does this mean for the WTO reform agenda? 

16:30 Welcome Remarks

• Dmitry Grozoubinski, Executive Director, Geneva Trade Platform

16:32 Setting the Scene

• Carolyn Deere Birkbeck, Executive Director, Forum on Trade, Environment & the SDGs (TESS) (moderator)

16:35 Reflections from Geneva-Based Ambassadors to the WTO 

• H.E. Mrs. Maria Martin-Prat, Ambassador, Permanent Representative of the European Union to the WTO
• H.E. Mr. Matthew Wilson, Ambassador, Permanent Representative of Barbados to the United Nations and other international organizations in Geneva
• H.E. Ms. Yongjie Li, Ambassador, Permanent Representative of China to the WTO
• H.E. Mr. Guilherme De Aguiar Patriota, Ambassador, Permanent Representative of Brazil to the WTO
• H.E. Ms. Michelle Cooper, Ambassador, Permanent Representative of Canada to the WTO

17:10 Reflections by Senior Experts from Stakeholder Organizations

• Janet Njambi Macharia, Chief Executive Officer, Trade Negotiations and Investment Forum (TNIF) Kenya
• Alice Tipping, Director, Trade and Sustainable Development, International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD)
• David Luke, Professor in Practice and Strategic Director, Firoz Lalji Institute for Africa, London School of Economics (LSE)
• Gabrielle Marceau, Honorary Professor (Emeritus), University of Geneva
• Valerie Picard, Head of Trade, International Chamber of Commerce (ICC)

17:40 Moderated Discussion 

17:55 Concluding Remarks