WITA Webinars

As WTO Members prepare for the 14th Ministerial Conference (MC14) in Cameroon this March, WITA International is hosting a new global webinar series: WTO Matters. The series explores the core functions of the WTO, reforms needed to keep the institution effective and relevant, and the key policy issues shaping debates.

At this session, we will discuss the relevance of the WTO’s core principle of Most Favored Nation (MFN).  While MFN remains essential for most of world trade, its critics, including the U.S., question its relevance. Panelists will discuss the impact on MFN of the Trump tariffs; the negotiation of trade deals that do not apply broadly; the U.S. reform proposal rejecting a one-size-fits-all approach; and the EU reform proposal noting the need for dynamic adjustment of rights and commitments given lack of reciprocal liberalization.

Featured Speakers:

David Henig, UK Director, European Centre for International Political Economy (ECIPE)

Maria Pagan, former Deputy United States Trade Representative and US Ambassador to the WTO; and Former Deputy General Counsel, Office U.S. Trade Representative, among other position’s she has held.

Dawn Shackleford, President at Looking Glass Trade, LLC; former Executive Director for Trade Agreements Policy & Negotiations, Department of Commerce; former Assistant USTR for WTO & Multilateral Affairs

Alan Wolff, Senior Fellow at Peterson Institute for International Economics ; former Deputy Director-General at the World Trade Organization

Moderator: Angela Ellard, Senior Advisor (non-resident), Center for Strategic and International Studies; former Deputy Director General, World Trade Organization

As WTO Members prepare for the 14th Ministerial Conference (MC14) in Cameroon this March, WITA International has launched a new global webinar series: WTO Matters. The series explores the core functions of the WTO, reforms needed to keep the institution effective and relevant, and the key policy issues shaping debates.

The February 13 webinar continues our conversation on reform and features perspectives from WTO ambassadors representing a cross-section of the membership, offering insights into priorities heading into MC14 and the path forward for the organization.  Topics we plan to discuss at this event are the reform proposal submitted by the EU in January, 2026.  This event follows-on the event WITA hosted on February 4, 2026, with additional WTO nations.

Featured Speakers:

Ambassador Sung-yo Choi, Deputy Permanent Representative of the Republic of Korea to the World Trade Organization

Ambassador Salomon Eheth, Permanent Mission of the Republic of Cameroon to the World Trade Organization

Ambassador João Machado, Permanent Representative of the European Union to the World Trade Organization

Ambassador Guilherme de Aguiar Patriota, Permanent Representative of Brazil to the World Trade Organization; Deputy Permanent Representative of Brazil to the United Nations

Ambassador Mzukisi Qobo, Permanent Representative of South Africa to the World Trade Organization

Moderator: Angela Ellard, Senior Advisor (non-resident), Center for Strategic and International Studies; former Deputy Director General, World Trade Organization

As WTO Members prepare for the 14th Ministerial Conference (MC14) in Cameroon this March, WITA International launched a new global webinar series: WTO Matters. The series explores the core functions of the WTO, reforms needed to keep the institution effective and relevant, and the key policy issues shaping debates.

As part of this series, WITA will host two events with Ambassadors from around the world to offer their perspectives on reform of the 30-year-old institution.   The February 4 event features Deputy USTR Joe Barloon, who talked about the United States reform proposal contained in their December 2025 communication to the WTO General Council.  Ambassador Barloon was joined by the Ambassadors of Norway, Barbados, and New Zealand in an event moderated by Angela Ellard, the former Deputy Director General of the WTO.  The second reform event on February 13, will feature additional perspectives from global WTO Ambassadors. 

Featured Speakers:

Ambassador Joseph Barloon, Deputy United States Trade Representative and Chief of Mission for the Permanent Mission of the United States to the World Trade Organization

Ambassador Clare Kelly, Ambassador and Permanent Representative, Permanent Mission of New Zealand to the World Trade Organization

Ambassador Petter Ølberg, Permanent Representative, Permanent Mission of Norway to the World Trade Organization

Ambassador Matthew Wilson, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Barbados to the United Nations, World Trade Organization and other International Organizations in Geneva 

Moderator: Angela Ellard, Senior Advisor (non-resident), Center for Strategic and International Studies; former Deputy Director General, World Trade Organization

As WTO Members prepare for the 14th Ministerial Conference (MC14) in Cameroon this March, WITA International is launching a new global webinar series: WTO Matters. The series will explore the core functions of the WTO, reforms needed to keep the institution effective and relevant, and the key policy issues shaping debates.In this first event in WITA’s WTO Matters Series, discussed fundamental principles and functions of the WTO, as well as topics currently under discussion for MC14, dispute settlement, trade policy monitoring, and “reform by doing.”Featured Speakers:Padideh Ala’i, Professor of Law at American University Washington College of LawEugenia Lizano, Chief of Section-Trade Policies Review, Americas, World Trade OrganizationRoy Santana, Secretary of the Council for Trade in Goods, World Trade OrganizationSantiago Wills, Director – General Council and Trade Negotiations Committee Division, World Trade OrganizationModerator: Angela Ellard, Senior Advisor (non-resident), Center for Strategic and International Studies; former Deputy Director General, World Trade Organization

This webinar kicked off our USMCA Review Series programming for 2026, building off the launch of the series in 2025. We looked at what we’ve learned so far from the USTR hearings and stakeholder engagement, how key sectors are positioning themselves ahead of the review, and what the review process could mean for companies, consumers, workers, and the North American economy. 

Featured Speakers:

Everett Eissenstat, Partner, Public Policy Practice Group, Squire Patton Boggs; former Deputy Assistant to the President for International Economic Affairs and Deputy Director, National Economic Council; former Assistant USTR for the Americas

Nancy Martinez, Director, Public Policy, Trade and Biotechnology, National Corn Growers Association

Tiffany Melvin, President, North American Strategy for Competitiveness (NASCO)

Mayur Patel, Partner, Hogan Lovells; former Chief International Trade Counsel, U.S. Senate Committee on Finance

Salvatore (Sal) Vetrini, Senior Counsel, FedEx Corporation

Moderator: Rory Heslington,  Vice President of Government Affairs, Autos Drive America

This event was recorded on January 12, 2026 at 10am.

Fusion & Flying Cars. Deaths From Despair. Blended Reality. AI Cyber War. Super Human. WITA is pleased to have hosted noted futurist Robert Moran of Brunswick Group to discuss 20 notable global trends and risks for 2026

Featured Speakers:

Robert Moran, Partner, Brunswick Group

Moderator: Rachel Rizzo, Senior Fellow, Strategic Studies Programme, Observer Research Foundation