International Centre for Trade and Sustainable Development

Published purpose

This project aims to contribute to strengthening the global trade system. This joint project between the International Centre for Trade and Sustainable Development (ICTSD) and the World Economic Forum (WEF) seeks to stimulate a fresh, strategic look at the major sustainable development challenges and identify opportunities that the global trade system is expected to face beyond 2015. It is crucial for the global trade system and investment system to align with the international community’s decisions on a post-2015 development framework, including sustainable development goals, and agreements on financing for development and climate change. The project convenes world-class experts and institutions to generate strategic analysis and recommendations for government, business and civil society geared towards strengthening the global trade and investment system. It works to identify opportunities for governance reform across fifteen focus areas. Activities include: (1) producing intellectual leadership on these topics, reflecting fact-based and problem-solving analysis; (2) promoting dialogue with Geneva-based ambassadors and trade policymakers, as well as political, business, and civil-society leaders within the WEF; and (3) developing scenarios on the future of the global trade system.