ICC and JETRO to host international symposium on global trade reform in Tokyo

Since its launch in October 2018 by ICC Secretary General John W.H. Denton AO and World Trade Organization Secretary General Roberto Azevedo, the Global Dialogue on Trade has provided a platform for multilateral institutions, think tanks, and businesses to discuss and debate the rules and regulations governing today’s international trade system.

After months of debate through the digitally enabled Global Dialogue on Trade, the symposium will bring together leaders from government and business in Tokyo to address several issues facing business operating in today’s international trade system. These include the rise of digital technologies, emerging government regulations and escalating trade tensions between national economies.

At the same time, the symposium will examine the function and purpose of the World Trade Organization from the perspective of business. As a result of the 2018 G20 Summit meeting in Buenos Aires, leaders agreed that the WTO needs to be reformed to reflect the ever-changing nature of the global trade system.

Under the theme “The World Trading System at a Crossroad and WTO Reform for a Sustainable World Economy”, the symposium, which is co-organised by ICC and the JETRO, will include a series of keynote speeches, as well as interactive round table discussions with leaders from business, government, and multilateral organisations. Confirmed participants include, ICC Secretary General John W.H Denton AO, the former Minister of Trade of Indonesia Mari Elka Pangestu, and Director of the Trade Negotiations Committee (TNC) at the World Trade Organization Victor Do Prado.