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

Questions for discussion include:

• What are the greatest trade-related challenges frustrating action to advance sustainable development? What are the key trade-related needs arising from the impacts of the triple environmental crisis?
• In the current political context, where are the greatest opportunities for trade cooperation to make a significant positive contribution to sustainability, considering both the range of possible international processes (bilateral, regional, plurilateral, sectoral, multilateral) and types of cooperation?
• What kinds of progress and outcomes on sustainability can be envisaged at the WTO, including in the context of the ongoing WTO reform process?

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 Setting the Scene

• Henry GAO, Professor of Law, Singapore Management University
• Gabrielle MARCEAU, Honorary Professor International Public Law and International Organisation, University of Geneva
• Trevor SUTTON, Senior Research Associate, Columbia Center on Global Energy Policy (Online)
• Elisa TONDA, Chief, Resources and Markets Branch, UN Environment Programme
• Ana Elena Sancho CALVINO, Associate Director of the Global Trade Alert, IMD

11:40–12:25 Reflections From Geneva-Based Ambassadors to the WTO

• 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
• H.E. Mr. Sumbue ANTAS, Ambassador, Permanent Representative of Vanuatu
  to the United Nations Office and other International Organizations in
  Geneva
• Mr. Jeremy GREEN, Minister-Counsellor and Deputy Permanent Representative, Permanent Mission of Australia to the WTO

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.