AIG Global Trade Series Event

Afore Consulting is proud to partner with the AIG Global Trade Series in a discussion on the future of the EU trade policy with Sabine Weyand, Director General of DG Trade, Bernd Lange, Chair of the International Trade Committee in the European Parliament, Ambassadors and further Members of the European Parliament’s International Trade Committee.

The nature of international trade agreements is evolving. One aspect of this is the inclusion of new sectors, such as digital trade and data transfers in trade agreements. Another is the increasing reference to common standards and norms in trade, such as environmental standards, common technology standards, but also the subscription to common labour and social norms. What implications do these developments have for trade negotiations? Will they open up trade or prompt defensive trade measures? What do they mean for regional rather than global trade partnerships, and what might these look like in the future?

This invitation-only event brings together a select group of trade experts from Europe, the US and Asia to discuss these and other trade themes. The debate is timed to precede the COP26 meeting on climate change and the Twelfth WTO Ministerial Conference (MC12).

The AIG Global Trade Series is a collaboration between AIG and international organizations with leading expertise on global trade, including Georgetown Institute of International Economic Law, Chatham House, the Clingendael Institute, the International Chamber of Commerce, the Research Institute for Economy, Trade and Industry, and the Bertelsmann Stiftung. Throughout 2021, AIG is producing a series of podcasts analysing the complex interplay of factors shaping the global trade system; recent editions include “Climate and Trade: on the road to COP26”, “After the pandemic: trade, health and protectionism”, “Where next for the WTO and global trade rules” and “Open strategic autonomy”.

The discussion will focus on the main findings of the Global Trade Series podcast and brings views from the European Commission, the European Parliament and international trade experts on, among others, the EU’s trade policy, the consequences of open strategic autonomy for inter-bloc trade dynamics, transatlantic regulatory cooperation, as well as the EU-China trade relationship and its future perspective.