LEDECO and THU Joint Winter Camp on Global Economic and Trade Governance

On January 11th-20th 2020, LEDECO Swiss organized its first Geneva Winter Camp on Global Governance in collaboration with Tsinghua University of China. Altogether twenty-eight students of bachelor and master level from seven Chinese universities participated this winter camp under the theme of “Global Economic and Trade Governance: Changes and Challenges”.

During the ten days, participants undertook three tailor-made modules around the theme:

1. A series of intensified courses delivered by senior experienced professionals from international organizations including the World Trade Organization (WTO), the International Trade Centre (ITC), the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) and related institutions such as the Advisory Centre on WTO Law (ACWL) and Geneva Peacebuilding Platform.

In-depth discussions were organized around numerous issues related to the changes and challenges in global economic and trade governance, including WTO reform, the status of developing countries and S&D, WTO dispute settlement mechanism and the Appellate Body crisis, the development of MSMEs and E-Commerce, trade and peace-making, etc.

Lecturers include WTO Deputy Director-General Ambassador Alan Wolff, Professor Xiankun LU LEDECO Swiss Managing Director, Mr. Patrick Low former Chief Economist of the WTO, Mr. Victor Do Prado, Director of Council and TNC Division of the WTO, Ms. Olga Solleder, Economist of ITC, Mr. David Bicchetti, Economic Affairs Officer, UNCTAD, etc.

2. Field visits to some international organizations including the WTO, the International Labor Organization (ILO) and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC).

Participants experienced first-handedly how the international organizations operate and what role they each play in global economic and trade governance through face-to-face interaction with senior representatives of these organizations.

3. A simulation course of the WTO General Council Meeting delivered by Professor Xiankun LU.

The simulation encompassed both discussions of a number of agenda items related to WTO reform and a text-based negotiation on a potential ministerial declaration on the WTO reform. Participants divided into eight groups, with one representing the chair of the General Council supported by the Secretariat, and seven representing respectively Brazil, China, the EU, Jamaica, Switzerland, the United States, and Chad representing the LDCs. Participants learned how to prepare official proposals, draft ambassadorial statements, engage in text-based negotiations, organize formal and informal negotiations, and host signing ceremony of a deal.

Annex: Programme of LEDECO-THU Winter Camp 2020

“Overview of the challenges and opportunities of the global trade and economic governance”
Presentation by Professor Xiankun LU

Keynote speech by Alan Wolff, Deputy Director-General, WTO

Presentation by Mariam Soumaré, Trade Policy Analyst, and
ZHANG Wei, Economic Affairs Officer, Accession Division, WTO

“Perspective of WTO Reform”
Presentation by Victor Do Prado, Director of Council and TNC Division of the WTO

“MSMEs, Trade and Multilateralism”
Presentation by Olga Solleder, Economist of ITC

“Trade and Development: UN SDGs”
Presentation by David Bicchetti, Economic Affairs Officer, UNCTAD

“Developing countries status and S&D”
Presentation by Patrick Low, former Chief Economist of the WTO

“WTO dispute settlement mechanism and the Appellate Body crisis”
Presentation by Alejandro Sánchez, Counsel of the Advisory Centre on WTO Law (ACWL)