To open the 2026 edition of Geneva Trade Week, this plenary, organized by TESS, will advance much-needed, forward-looking dialogue on how to step up cooperation and collective action on trade and sustainability, and where the WTO fits in.

The event will bring together a diverse group of Geneva-based ambassadors to the WTO and leading international experts to share their views on the most pressing priorities for trade and sustainability, what an inclusive, proactive agenda could look like, and how to advance the collective action vital for rapid impact at scale.

While recognizing the backdrop of trade instability and geopolitical challenges, the panel will seek to focus attention on both the urgency of sustainability challenges and the range of opportunities for trade and trade-related policies to advance concrete outcomes that benefit people and planet. Amidst ongoing discussions on WTO reform, speakers will reflect on the importance of sustainable development as a much-needed North Star for reform discussions.

The following questions will guide the discussion:

·        What kinds of policies, rules, and strategies are needed to ensure the international trading system contributes to addressing urgent sustainable development priorities and environmental crises?

·        How do we move from talk to action? What are the greatest opportunities for trade cooperation to accelerate action, and what kinds of outcomes and approaches warrant consideration?

·        How can we build systematically on the trade and sustainability success stories and lessons that exist?

·        How can we ensure the WTO contributes proactively to sustainability outcomes, and what does this mean for the WTO reform agenda?

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