The event will bring together a diverse group of leading international experts and Geneva-based ambassadors to the World Trade Organization to spur discussion on a proactive, forward-looking agenda on trade and sustainability, and on strategies to advance it.

11:00–11:05 Welcome Remarks To Open Geneva Trade Week

Dmitry GROZOUBINSKI, Executive Director, Geneva Trade Platform

11:05–11:10 Introduction to the Opening Panel

Carolyn DEERE BIRKBECK, Executive Director, Forum on Trade, Environment & the SDGs (TESS) (moderator)

11:10–11:40 Opening Remarks and Setting the Scene

• Henry GAO, Professor of Law, Singapore Management University
• Gabrielle MARCEAU, Honorary Professor International Public Law and International Organisation, University of Geneva
• Valerie PICARD, Head of Trade, International Chamber of Commerce (TBC)
• Amina MOHAMED, Chairperson, Trade Negotiations and Investment Forum, former Cabinet Secretary (Minister) for Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Kenya (TBC)
• Elisa TONDA, Chief, Resources and Markets Branch, UN Environment Programme (TBC)
• Simon EVENETT, Professor of Geopolitics and Strategy, IMD (TBC)
• Trevor SUTTON, Senior Research Associate, Columbia Center on Global Energy Policy (TBC)

11:40–12:25 Reflections Each From a Diverse Group of Geneva-Based Ambassadors to the WTO, Including:

• Mr. Jeremy GREEN, Minister-Counsellor and Deputy Permanent Representative, Permanent Mission of Australia to the WTO
  
• H.E. Mr. Salomon EHETH, Ambassador, Permanent Representative of Cameroon to the United Nations Office and other international organizations in Geneva (TBC)
• H.E. Ms. Nella Pepe TAVITA-LEVY, Ambassador, Permanent Representative of Samoa to the United Nations Office and other International Organizations in Geneva (TBC)
• H.E. Dr. Msukisi QOBO Ambassador, Permanent Representative of South Africa to the WTO
• H.E. Mr. Erwin BOLLINGER, Ambassador, Permanent Representative of Switzerland to the WTO (TBC)

12:25 – 12:30 Concluding Remarks

In today’s highly integrated world economy, addressing the triple environmental crisis of climate change, pollution, and biodiversity loss requires enhanced cooperation and concerted action on a wide range of policies, including trade and investment. Meanwhile, geopolitical tensions, competitiveness, and security considerations are increasingly reshaping global trade relations and questioning the adequacy of existing international governance frameworks.

In this new context, there are growing concerns around the proliferation and fragmentation of unilateral and sometimes discriminatory trade-related policy responses, which not only threaten socio-economic development prospects but also our ability to achieve global climate, biodiversity, and pollution targets. At the same time, these emerging dynamics offer opportunities to reimagine cooperation on trade for sustainable development through new forms of collective action at the bilateral, regional, or international level as well as in the context of the ongoing WTO reform process.