WTO Chairs Programme Expands Academic Network to Strengthen Trade Policy Engagement Ahead of MC14
SDG 4: Quality Education
SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals
Institutions: Ministry of Commerce and Industry
The WTO Chairs Programme (WCP), launched in 2010, continues to empower academic institutions in developing countries to contribute to trade-related research, curriculum development, and policy outreach. On 2 July 2025, at the WCP’s three-day annual conference, the programme welcomed five new universities from the Dominican Republic, Nigeria, Qatar, Togo, and Vanuatu—bringing the total number of networked institutions to 39.
WTO Deputy Director-General Zhang thanked donors France, Austria, and the Republic of Korea for their support, emphasizing that WCP provides “a powerful platform for empowering academic institutions in developing countries to elevate the role of academia in driving policy change and creating multilateral cooperation”
France’s Permanent Representative highlighted how academic research enables testing, comparison, and adaptation to find concrete solutions to complex trade challenges. Austria's representative added that such capacity-building allows members to engage in rigorous analysis and make informed trade policy decisions. Korea’s deputy representative reaffirmed the WCP’s growing significance as multilateralism faces new challenges.
Conference participants will deliberate on themes critical to the 14th WTO Ministerial Conference (MC14)—including digital trade, fisheries subsidies, MSMEs, trade finance, and dispute settlement—and explore collaborative avenues across the WCP network.
A fireside chat with Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala underscored that “the WTO is beyond tariffs,” pointing to roles for customs valuation, intellectual property, SPS and TBT in addressing WTO criticisms and fostering practical solutions.
Relevant question for policy stakeholders: How can Indian universities be integrated into a national version of the WTO Chairs Programme to enhance academic-policy synergy in trade, particularly in areas such as digital trade, MSME export development, and sustainability-focused trade reforms ahead of MC14?
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https://www.wto.org/english/news_e/news25_e/chair_02jul25_e.htm