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Conference on What Future for the Global Trading System?Conference on "What Future for the Global Trading System?"

Feb. 22–23, 2021
Location: UC San Diego

Overview

Global economic cooperation faces unprecedented challenges. Trade wars have disrupted supply chains and increased business uncertainty. Brexit, the U.S. departure from the Trans-Pacific Partnership, and U.S. disengagement from the World Trade Organization have generated doubts about the future of global economic governance. Populism is pushing nations inward, just as the rise of China and the Covid pandemic demand coordinated global responses. National security concerns in the technology sector add another layer of complexity to global economic policymaking.  

Academic research and policy analysis can illuminate the sources of these challenges and identify tractable policy and institutional responses to the threats that imperil global cooperation. Research and policy discussions are also relevant to business leaders, who must navigate uncertain global markets and anticipate the policies of the new Administration.

This virtual event will bring together leading academics, policy analysts, and business leaders to consider some of these major challenges in the global trading system. 

Takeaways (PDF)

Download the program (PDF)

Agenda

Feb. 22, 2021

4–5 p.m. – Global Leaders Forum: Fireside Chat – Mobilizing Climate Financing for a Sustainable Future | Video

  • The Most Honourable Andrew Michael Holness ON, MP, Prime Minister of Jamaica

Feb. 23, 2021

8–9 a.m. – Global Leaders Forum: Fireside Breakfast Chat – The Future of Manufacturing and Global Supply Chains | Video

  • Jeff Immelt, Former CEO, GE 

9:05–9:20 a.m. – Setting the stage: where we are and what we want to achieve today

  • Renee Bowen, Director, Center for Commerce and Diplomacy, UC San Diego
  • Lawrence Broz, Associate Director, Center for Commerce and Diplomacy, UC San Diego
  • Marc Muendler, Professor of Economics, UC San Diego 

Papers and Recommended Readings:

9:20–10:20 a.m. – Session 1: Multilateralism versus Bilateralism

Academic presentations:

  • Robert Staiger, Roth Family Distinguished Professor in the Arts and Sciences and Professor of Economics, Dartmouth College
  • Maurice Obstfeld, Class of 1958 Professor of Economics at UC Berkeley, Nonresident Senior Fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics
  • Doug Irwin, John French Professor of Economics, Dartmouth College 

Business and policy panel:

  • Jennifer Hillman, Professor of Practice at Georgetown Law Center, Senior Fellow for Trade and International Political Economy at the Council on Foreign Relations
  • Pilar Dieter, Managing Partner, YCP Solidiance
  • Anabel Gonzalez, Nonresident Senior Fellow, Peterson Institute for International Economics 
  • William Reinsch, Scholl Chair of International Business, Center for Strategic & International Studies

Moderator: Renee Bowen, Director, Center for Commerce and Diplomacy, UC San Diego

Papers and Recommended Readings:

10:20–10:30 a.m. – Break

10:30–11:30 a.m. – Session 2: National Security, Innovation Policy and Trade Agreements

Academic presentations:

  • Peter Cowhey, Dean, School of Global Policy and Strategy and Qualcomm Endowed Chair in Communications and Technology Policy, UC San Diego 
  • Anders Humlum, Saieh Family Fellow in Economics, Becker Friedman Institute, University of Chicago 
  • Simon Evenett, Professor of International Trade and Economic Development and MBA Director at the University of St. Gallen, Switzerland

Business and policy panel:

  • Monique Rodriguez, Vice President, Government Affairs, Qualcomm
  • Christine Bliss, President, Coalition of Service Industries
  • Doug Beck, Vice President for Worldwide Education, Health, and Government, Apple 
  • Mark Linscott, Senior Advisor, The Asia Group

Moderator: Kati Suominen, Founder and CEO, Nextrade Group; and Senior Fellow, Center for Commerce and Diplomacy, UC San Diego

Papers and Recommended Readings:

11:30–12:30 p.m. – Session 3: Building Consensus for Open Markets

Academic presentations:

  • Jeff Frieden, Stanfield Professor of International Peace, Harvard University
  • Kadee Russ, Associate Professor of Economics, UC Davis
  • Ilyana Kuziemko, Professor of Economics, Princeton University

Business and policy panel:

  • Charles H. Dallara, Former Chairman, Americas at Partners Group 
  • Caroline Freund, Global Director of Trade, Investment and Competitiveness, World Bank 
  • Chad Bown, Reginald Jones Senior Fellow, Peterson Institute for International Economics 
  • Elizabeth J. Drake, Partner, Schagrin Associates

Moderator: Lawrence Broz, Associate Director, Center for Commerce and Diplomacy, UC San Diego

Papers and Recommended Readings:

12:30–1:15 p.m. – Session 4: Path forward on research and U.S. and international trade policy

  • Renee Bowen, Director, Center for Commerce and Diplomacy, UC San Diego
  • Lawrence Broz, Associate Director, Center for Commerce and Diplomacy, UC San Diego
  • Marc Muendler, Professor of Economics, UC San Diego

Participants

Keynote Speakers

Speakers

  • Douglas Beck, Vice President for Worldwide Education, Health, and Government, Apple
  • Christine Bliss, President, Coalition of Service Industries (CSI)
  • Renee Bowen, Director, Center for Commerce and Diplomacy; and Professor and Pastor Faculty Fellow, University of California San Diego
  • Chad P. Bown, Reginald Jones Senior Fellow, Peterson Institute for International Economics
  • J. Lawrence Broz, Associate Director, Center for Commerce and Diplomacy; and Professor of Political Science, University of California San Diego
  • Peter Cowhey, Dean, School of Global Policy & Strategy and Qualcomm Endowed Chair in Communications and Technology Policy at UC San Diego
  • Charles H. Dallara, Senior Fellow, Center for Commerce and Diplomacy; and Advisory Partner, Partners Group AG
  • Pilar Dieter, Managing Partner, YCP Solidiance
  • Elizabeth J. Drake, Partner, Schagrin Associates
  • Simon Evenett, Professor of International Trade and Economic Development and MBA Director at the University of St. Gallen, Switzerland
  • Caroline Freund, Global Director of Trade, Investment and Competitiveness, World Bank
  • Jeffry Frieden, Stanfield Professor of International Peace, Harvard University
  • Anabel Gonzalez, Nonresident Senior Fellow, Peterson Institute for International Economics
  • Jennifer Hillman, Professor of Practice at Georgetown Law Center, Senior Fellow for Trade and International Political Economy at the Council on Foreign Relations
  • Anders Humlum, Saieh Family Fellow in Economics, Becker Friedman Institute, University of Chicago
  • Douglas Irwin, John French Professor of Economics, Dartmouth College
  • Ilyana Kuziemko, Professor of Economics, Princeton University
  • Mark Linscott, Senior Advisor, The Asia Group
  • Marc-Andreas Muendler, Professor of Economics, University of California San Diego
  • Maurice Obstfeld, Class of 1958 Professor of Economics at UC Berkeley and Nonresident Senior Fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics
  • William Reinsch, Scholl Chair of International Business, Center for Strategic & International Studies
  • Katheryn Russ, Associate Professor of Economics, UC Davis
  • Kati Souminen, Senior Fellow, Center for Commerce and Diplomacy; and Founder and CEO, Nextrade Group
  • Robert Staiger, Roth Family Distinguished Professor in the Arts and Sciences and Professor of Economics, Dartmouth College

Papers and Recommended Readings

Renee Bowen and J. Lawrence Broz: "Designing an International Economic Order: A Research Agenda"

Chad Bown: "Memorandum on: Trade-related policy priorities for the next administration"

J. Lawrence Broz, Jeffry Frieden and Stephen Weymouth: “Populism in Place: The Economic Geography of the Globalization Backlash”

Peter Cowhey: "Meeting the China Challenge: A New American Strategy for Technology Competition" (pages 14-17 summary recommendations)

Simon Evenett: "Memo to the new WTO Director-General: Never waste a crisis"

Jeffry Frieden: "The Political Economy of the Globalization Backlash: Sources and Implications"

Anabel Gonzalez: "Memo to the World Trade Organization on how to fight COVID-19 and make needed reforms"

Anders Humlum and Meyer: "Artificial Intelligence and College Majors"

Doug Irwin: "Trade Policy in American History", "The pandemic adds momentum to the deglobalization trend" and "Memorandum on: Rethinking Industrial Policy"

Brad Jensen: "Memo to the Biden administration on improving US performance in services trade"

Meltzer: "The Impact of Artificial Intelligence on International Trade"

Maurice Obstfeld: “Engaging with allies and competitors”

Robert Staiger: "Trade Wars: What do they mean? Why are they happening now? What are the costs?"

 

Media

News

Charting the future of global trade
Center for Commerce and Diplomacy conference draws together leading minds, including the prime minister of Jamaica and the former CEO of General Electric, to chart a course for the next era of international integration putting domestic needs, climate change and national security front and center

Videos