This year's Public Forum will focus on how technology is changing the way we trade and will assess how trade can continue to contribute to job creation, growth and sustainable development, particularly in the context of the Sustainable Development Goals under the 2030 Agenda. The Forum will debate how, in light of these technological developments, future trade can be more sustainable and the benefits shared more widely. Further information on this year's theme and the three sub-themes - sustainable trade, technology-enabled trade, and a more inclusive trading system - is available here.

All sessions at the Public Forum are organised by the participants. These include civil society, academia, business, governments, parliamentarians and intergovernmental organizations. Participants interested in organizing working sessions or workshops will find further details in this information note.  The application form contained in the note should be completed and sent to [email protected] no later than 4 June 2018.

Background

The Public Forum is the WTO’s largest annual outreach event. It provides a unique platform for policy makers and representatives of government, business, workers, consumers, academics, civil society and others to come together and debate on a wide range of WTO issues and on some of the major trade and development topics of the day. Over 1,500 participants attend the Forum each year. See more information on previous Public Forums.