The first two weeks of the forum will focus on “effects of trade on poverty”; and the final two weeks on “how to ensure that trade and environment are mutually supportive”. To enable an informed debate, major studies on these topics and links to research in other institutions will be posted

WTO Director-General Mike Moore said “the forum is the first initiative of the WTO Network, which links the organization with universities and research centres to build and disseminate knowledge on international trade issues”. He added “the WTO is for an informed debate on the crucial trade issues, and we hope for a substantial response all over the world”.

Several of the participating institutions contribute to a World Bank project on building a trade negotiating agenda for developing countries. Experts and scholars from 15 universities and research centres across the globe, who are carrying out research on these topics, will answer questions from forum participants.

Participants must register for the forum