On 31 August 2020, Roberto Azevêdo will step down as director-general of the World Trade Organization. The selection process for the next director-general is underway with eight candidates nominated by national governments around the world. The successful candidate will lead this critically important global organization as it faces enormous challenges amid intensifying international trade tensions, rising protectionism and the unprecedented global economic fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic.
In this webinar, Dr Robin Niblett, director and chief executive of Chatham House, hosts a conversation with The Rt Hon Dr Liam Fox MP. Liam Fox served as UK secretary of state for international trade and president of the Board of Trade (2016-19) and is currently a candidate for the post of WTO director-general.
Chatham House has worked since its foundation to support and help develop the rules-based multilateral economic system and this event is part of a centenary series of dialogues with the WTO candidates, supported by the Global Economy and Finance Programme and the Global Trade Policy Forum, to better understand their stance on key challenges in world trade.
What is their overarching philosophy on global trade? What is their vision of the future role of the WTO and what will be needed to deliver on this? How will they tackle a number of the most pressing issues facing the organisation as the world grapples with the COVID-19 crisis and ongoing global trade tensions?
Participants
Dr Liam Fox MP, UK Secretary of State for International Trade and President of the Board of Trade (2016-19)
Chair: Dr Robin Niblett, Director, Chatham House
