SEATINI to Hold a Session at the WTO Public Forum

Geneva, Switzerland – As part of the during the World Trade Organization (WTO) Public Forum 2023, the Southern and Eastern Africa Trade Information and Negotiations Institute (SEATINI) and Third World Network (TWN) – Africa under the umbrella of Africa Trade Network (ATN) are set to hold a session themed; ‘‘Green Trade and Africa-Policy Perspectives’’. This session will be held on Friday, 15th September 2023 from 12:30-13:45 in Room B, WTO Building.

The Public Forum is the WTO’s largest outreach event, providing a unique platform for interested stakeholders from around the world to discuss the latest developments in global trade and to propose ways of enhancing the multilateral trading system. The event attracts over 2,000 representatives each year from civil society, academia, business, government, international organisations, and the media. This year’s WTO Public Forum will examine how trade can contribute to a greener and more sustainable future. The Forum will explore how trade can facilitate access to environmental goods, services and technologies, help achieving the Paris Agreement’s Nationally Determined Contributions, and maintain the ambition to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees above pre-industrial levels.

Session Context

African economies are confronted with an enduring challenge of structural economic transformation as most economies continue to exhibit features of primary commodity dependence. This challenge accounts for the low trade figures in value-added goods and services in the global economy.

To tackle these challenges, the continent has put in place policy initiatives and frameworks such as the Agenda 2063, a framework to guide policy choices on the continent. Other policy initiatives are Boosting Intra Africa Trade, Accelerated Industrial Development in Africa, Africa’s Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) among others.

But Africa’s drive to raise productivity and change the trade narrative is taking place in a rapidly changing global trade policy landscape, shaped by climate imperatives. This new challenge has exposed the vulnerability of African economies and raises the urgent need for sustainable trade and development solutions.

In light of the above, this session will among others, critically examine the current state of play and suggest the policy reforms that Africa will need to green its trade and development.

For more information, please contact us via email: info@seatiniuganda.org