We are delighted to invite IDS alumni in and around New Delhi to attend the Roundtable Discussion on WTO MC 14: Future of Trade and Development.

This event is a great opportunity to engage in forward-looking discussions on the future of trade and development cooperation, while reconnecting with IDS and fellow alumni. 

Event Agenda

09.30 – 10.00 hrs. Registration

10.00 – 11.00 hrs. Inaugural Session

• Prof. Sachin Kumar Sharma, DG, RIS
• Dr Amrita Saha, Lead, Trade & Development, IDS
• Dr Rajesh Agarwal, Commerce Secretary (tbc)

11.00 – 11.30 hrs. Group Photo, Tea and Coffee

11.30 – 13.00 hrs. Panel 1: WTO MC14: What Comes Next for Global Trade?

WTO MC14 will be a pivotal moment for global trade. Progress on key challenges is critical to restoring stability and confidence in the trading system. As geopolitical dynamics and economic priorities evolve, the rules-based framework will need to adapt to a rapidly changing landscape, including emerging issues such as digital trade, investment facilitation, and sectoral negotiations. This panel will examine the future of trade governance. From rule-making and dispute settlement to development priorities and institutional reform, it will explore how countries and coalitions may navigate the next phase of global economic cooperation. 

Chair: TBC

Speakers:

• Supreet Khosla, Networking lead, Palladium
• Dr Anabel Marin, IDS
• Atul Kaushik, GDC Fellow, RIS
• More speakers TBC

13.00 – 14.00 hrs. Lunch

14.00 – 15.30 hrs. Panel 2: The disconnects in inclusive trade

International trade has long been promoted as a pathway to development, yet its inclusiveness remains contested. Despite growing recognition of the need to link trade with broader development goals—such as poverty reduction, gender equality, human rights, and disability inclusion—growing trade has often remained as the dominant objective, at the expense of these other dimensions. Recent global trade turbulence and emerging issues including environmental and labour standards further challenge trade’s role to promote inclusion. This panel will discuss the persistent disconnects between the intended development impacts of trade policies and the lived realities of marginalized and vulnerable groups. 

Chair: Dr Mattia Di Ubaldo, Deputy Director, UK Trade Policy Observatory
Speakers:

• Prof. Sambit Bhattacharya, University of Sussex
• Kaustuv Chakrabarti, South-South & Triangular Cooperation Expert, World Food Programme
• Prof. Manmohan Agarwala, Adjunct Fellow, RIS / Dr Anshuman Gupta, RIS 
• Prof. Dibyendu Maiti, Delhi School of Economics (DSE) 

15.30 – 16.00 hrs. Closing Session

Please also join us for High tea and socialising from 16:00 onwards.