Mia Mikic

Due to the pandemic, 2021 will forever be remembered as the year when trade turned to women. Not only are the key global trade institutions all helmed by women, but their memberships’ collective mindset shifted to allow for the removal of the gender-neutral blindfolds and concrete advances in the informal work program among several WTO. It is vital to maintain the momentum of 2021 and build on it in 2022 and beyond.

Catherine Grant Makokera

The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) is one of the most ambitious regional integration initiatives taking place in the world today. Full implementation is still at least a decade away but there is significant value for the countries participating in the process of engagement itself.

Sylvia Chen

“America is back. The transatlantic alliance is back,” remarked President Joe Biden shortly after he took office. After inheriting the legacy of the Trump administration’s unilateral trade policy that led to transatlantic tensions, President Biden wants to re-engage the United States’ key allies, particularly the European Union, and re-commit to multilateralism. In mid-June this year, President Biden traveled to Brussels during his first overseas trip to participate in a US-EU Summit.

Sally Jones

As someone who has worked in trade for several years, I naturally find the topic fascinating. However, I had become used to the idea that most people do not – the glazed expressions and rapid conversation changes during dinner party conversations proved the point.

Stephanie Honey

The conference, entitled ‘Trade for Her’, will explore current challenges and barriers to women in trade, hear business perspectives on the issues, and discuss synergies with other policy areas - ultimately seeking to identify solutions for women’s greater empowerment in trade.