Public Forum 2025

Public Forum 2025 Public Forum 2025 Public Forum 2025

Trade Policy Hub

At the WTO Public Forum 2025, the Trade Policy Hub will debut as a collaborative effort with the Trade Policy Research Forum to bridge research and policymaking by fostering dialogue between researchers and policy professionals. The Trade Policy Hub will identify synergies, enhance information flow, and translate research findings into policy insights, complementing broader discussions at the Public Forum and addressing the most pressing trade issues as well as future research directions.

Programme

17 September 2025   EM Gallery

Time slots Sessions

13:30 – 13:35

Introduction by Hanna Norberg, Ben Shepherd, and Maurizio Zanardi

13:35 – 14:15
Session 1

Digital Taxation Governance in International Trade The Central Role of the WTO

Anna Sá Malta (Federal University of Pernambuco)

Advancing Firm Digitalization in Africa

Floriana Borino (International Trade Centre)


Discussion by chair and Q&As

14:15 – 14:45
Session 2

How Does Service Liberalization Promote Productivity Evidence from China's Institutional Opening-up Reform

Yan Zhang (Central University of Finance and Economics)

Burdened by Red Tape Trade Effects from Documentation

Lisandra Flach (LMU Munich and ifo Institute)


Discussion by chair and Q&As

14:45 – 15:20

Posters available with authors present for discussion

15:20 – 16:00
Session 3

Tariff Cuts Uncertainty Reduction and the Force of Many The Impact of Plurilateral Agreements

Irene Iodice (Bielefeld University)

Can Plurilateral Agreements Facilitate Global Trade Liberalization

Lasha Chochua (Tbilisi State University)


Discussion by chair and Q&As

16:00 – 16:40
Session 4

A Practical Framework for Sector-specific Modeling of Services Trade Policy

Saad Ahmad (U.S. International Trade Commission)

Contribution on Massive Modularity in Global Value Chains

Daria Taglioni (World Bank)


Discussion by chair and Q&As

16:40 – 17:15

Posters available with authors present for discussion

17:15 – 17:50
Session 5 with Ralph Ossa
On the challenges of linking policy with research how to bring research to the attention of policymakers and what may be the needs of the policy community that the research community may want to address.

Q&As

17:50 – 18:15

Posters available with authors present for discussion
Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in these sessions are those of the participants. They do not necessarily represent the positions or opinions of the WTO or its members and are without prejudice to members' rights and obligations under the WTO.

Posters

  • Martin Liao (Singapore Management University): “The WTO of the Future: Keeping the WTO Digitally Relevant via the JSI on E-commerce”
  • Sergio Martinez (University of St Gallen): “By Which Mechanisms Could Openness to Digital Services Trade Reduce Income Inequality?”
  • Marta Paczos (Department for Business and Trade, United Kingdom): “Text-to-AVE: Clustering with Chapter-sector Heterogeneity for Analysis of New Free Trade Agreements”
  • Ana Peres (UKTPO/University of Sussex): “WTO Lawmaking for a Multipolar Trading System: Addressing the Challenges of the Green and Digital Global Economy”
  • Jacopo Timini (Banco de España): “Does the WTO Promote Trade? A Meta-analysis”
  • Tim Vogel (German Institute of Development and Sustainability): “From Mines to Markets: Gravity Model Insights on Critical Raw Material Trade”
  • Chahir Zaki (University of Orléans): “Revisiting the Impact of Trade Facilitation Measures in Africa”