World Trade Organisation Public Forum 2023

The 2023 Public Forum will explore how trade and the WTO can help create a greener and more sustainable future. In particular, it will delve into how the services sector, digitalisation and inclusive trade policies can support this objective.

Our panel at this event aims to:

• Assess the barriers that companies still encounter in trying to provide services in other countries, notably increasing barriers to digital trade, that hamper their growth
• Demonstrate the need for consistent policy and standardisation frameworks to reduce CO2 emissions across supply chains
• Explain why raising tariffs on digital transactions can potentially slow these more efficient digital processes
• Present possible solutions to remove existing barriers and prevent new barriers to emerge, notably via the extension of the moratorium on customs duties on e-transmissions and the adoption of new global rules for digital trade

Speakers:

• Mr. Kevin Verbelen – Chair of the DIGITALEUROPE Digital Trade Policy Group and Senior Expert International Trade, Agoria
• Ms. Martina F. Ferracane – Research Fellow, Academic Project Manager of the Digital Trade Integration Project – European University Institute
• Ms. Amy Stuart, Counselor, Negotiator for JSI on E-Commerce, Australian Mission to the WTO
• Ms. Christine Bliss, President, US Coalition of Service Industries

Moderator:

• Mr. Pascal Kerneis – Managing Director – European Services Forum