The Panel on Defining the Future of Trade, convened by Director-General Pascal Lamy, issued its report “The Future of Trade: The Challenges of Convergence”.

The Panel was established in April 2012 to examine and analyse challenges to global trade opening in the 21st century. It met three times, in May 2012, September 2012, and January 2013. The Panel also engaged in consultations and discussions with various stakeholders. Meetings took place in Beijing, Singapore, Geneva, New Delhi and Amman.

“Regulating trade opening is only one of the many challenges facing a rapidly integrating world economy. But it is also one where we already have a system which has shown its resilience. Like all assets, it needs not just proper maintenance. It also needs investment in the future. We offer this report as a call to action and a contribution to further reflection – action and reflection that we believe are essential to address our current stasis and the real risk this carries of imposing significant economic, social and political costs across the globe,” the Panel said.

Report by the World Trade Organisation