The workshop, held at the WTO, was also attended by partners of the WTO Trade for Peace Programme (T4P), including the Geneva Graduate Institute, the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) and the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

WTO Deputy Director-General Zhang Xiangchen delivered opening remarks, highlighting the role that policymakers and trade experts can play to reduce the risk of conflict. “As trade policy officials, our job is to communicate with people, build trust and find commonalities, areas of convergence upon which agreements can be built,” said DDG Zhang. He noted that the research output produced by the students would add to the empirical trade for peace evidence and serve to inform policymakers.

Dr Xinyu Yuan, who leads the T4P Interdisciplinary Master's (MINT) Course at the Geneva Graduate Institute, underlined the current level of conflict around the world: “2022 was the deadliest year since 1984, with over 200,000 battle-related deaths across 55 state-based conflicts.” While the number of inter-state conflicts are decreasing, intra-state conflicts or civil conflicts are increasing, she said.

Mr Nahom Gebremariam from the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) highlighted the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and its connection to peace. “There is a strong belief in the continent that a better economic situation will help create the conditions for peace,” said Mr Gebremariam. He also presented UNECA's report on trade, peace and development.

Mr Mustapha Sadni Jallab, Head of the Knowledge Management Section in KMD, presented a review of the current literature on the trade-peace nexus. Quoting figures from the latest WTO World Trade Report, he noted recent patterns in trade policy in response to conflict and emphasized that “the multilateral trading system contributes to reaching the shared objective of peace by ensuring transparency.”

Mr Franck Bousquet, Deputy-Director for Fragility, Conflict and Violence at the IMF, outlined the Fund's approach to fragile and conflict-affected states (FCAs). He highlighted the IMF's comparative advantage in building institutional capacity, catalyzing donor support, promoting macroeconomic stability and providing financial assistance, all of which are necessary to help FCAs escape the “conflict and fragility trap”

Former WTO Deputy Director-General Alan Wolff looked back at the history of the trade-peace nexus, underlining periods when trade played a critical role in promoting peace and stability on both a regional and international stage. He provided insights into the politics of trade and peace negotiations, drawing upon examples from across the world.

Professor Simon Evenett of the University of St. Gallen (HSG) explained the best way of undertaking case study research, highlighting methodology and recommended strategies. The workshop was followed by a group exercise in which students discussed their ideas for trade-peace case studies with the WTO Secretariat's Trade for Peace (T4P) team.  

At a T4P Future Leaders reception, the St. Gallen students were joined by fellow students from the T4P course at the Geneva Graduate Institute and a visiting group of students from the University of International Business and Economics in Beijing.

The WTO will hold a closing workshop on 5 December, where students will present their T4P case studies and receive feedback from experts in the WTO Secretariat and HSG academics.