·
WTO
Public Forum 2026 opened in Geneva on 15 September 2026 under
the theme “Powering the
Future.”
·
The
three-day event brings together more
than 4,600 participants from business, governments, civil
society, academia and international organisations.
·
The
Forum features a record 540
speakers across 113 sessions, alongside networking, breakout
and cultural events.
·
Services
trade is the central focus, highlighted as a
major source of economic growth, income, employment and empowerment. Services
account for more than
two-thirds of global GDP and more employment than any other
sector.
·
Services
trade is projected to grow 4.8% in 2026,
significantly faster than merchandise trade.
·
WTO
reform was a major theme: WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala said
more than 70% of world
trade operates under WTO Most-Favoured-Nation (MFN) rules,
while acknowledging the need to reform and improve the system.
·
Future
growth areas: Speakers highlighted AI, services, technological innovation
and evolving business models as opportunities for expanding
global trade.
·
WTO
rulebook needs updating: Brazil's WTO
Ambassador Guilherme
Patriota stressed the continuing importance of WTO rules but
called for greater flexibility and an updated rulebook.
·
Trade
uncertainty costs: ICC Secretary-General John Denton cited ICC
studies estimating nearly US$600
billion in lost business opportunities from cumulative global
trade uncertainty over the past two years.
·
Small
businesses face greater barriers: IISD
President Patricia Fuller
highlighted the disproportionate impact of tariffs and administrative barriers
on smaller businesses.
·
WTO
World Trade Report 2026, titled “A Critical Juncture for the World
Trading System,” was officially launched at the Forum.
·
New
format: The WTO and Geneva Trade Platform
introduced “Curated
Conversations” to facilitate candid policy discussions on major
international trade issues.
Key takeaway: The
2026 WTO Public Forum is placing services,
AI, technological change and WTO reform at the centre of
discussions on the future trading system, while highlighting the need to reduce
uncertainty and make global trade rules more responsive to changing economic
conditions.
[ABS News Service/16.09.2026]
The
2026 edition of the WTO's Public Forum kicked off on 15 September in Geneva under
the theme Powering the Future. Over three days, the Forum will welcome more than
4,600 participants from business, governments, civil society, academia and international
organizations to discuss how trade in services is a key engine of development, a
source of income, and a driver of job creation and empowerment worldwide.
The
Public Forum is the WTO's largest annual outreach event, with this year's edition
featuring 540 speakers across 113 sessions, a record number. Many breakout sessions,
networking opportunities and cultural events are also an integral part of the event,
providing an unparalleled opportunity for WTO members and other attendees to interact
and engage on key issues facing global trade.
Representing
more than two-thirds of global GDP and accounting for more employment than any other
sector, trade in services is not just a driver of global economic growth. It is
the most dynamic component of world trade. In 2026, services trade volume is projected
to expand by 4.8 per cent, significantly outpacing trade in goods.
The
Forum kicked off with a high-level panel exploring how technological innovation,
geopolitical shifts, climate issues and evolving business models will shape the
trading system of the future. Jointly organized by the International Chamber of
Commerce (ICC) and the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD),
the session brought together WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, WTO Dispute
Settlement Body Chair and Brazil's WTO Ambassador, Guilherme Patriota, ICC Secretary-General
John Denton and IISD President and CEO Patricia Fuller. Moderated by the Peterson
Institute for International Economics Senior Fellow Inu Manak, the session examined
how international cooperation and trade can contribute to prosperity, sustainability
and trade opportunities for future generations.
DG
Okonjo-Iweala reminded the audience that over 70 per cent
of world trade is conducted under the WTO's most-favoured nation (MFN) rules, providing
stability for businesses. But she also acknowledged the need for WTO reform.
"The
global trade rules are under challenge, global trade is experiencing problems such
as it has never seen," she said. "But let's get out of this mindset of
everything is not working and move to an area where we are saying, let's fix what
doesn't work and let's seize opportunities," she urged, citing AI and services
as engines for growth that economies should look to harness.
Ambassador
Patriota said: "The WTO acquis, which was built over a period of eight decades,
is extremely important because most countries' national laws mirror what was negotiated
here, and it still governs most trade worldwide." He highlighted that "the
WTO sits at the very heart of the critical relationship between peace, security
and development", but he underscored the need for "a degree of flexibility
within the system" and called for the existing rulebook to be re-examined and
updated.
John
Denton said ICC studies have shown that the cumulative cost of global trade uncertainty
in the past two years is nearly USD 600 billion in lost business opportunities.
He argued that WTO members need to focus on moving forwards and facing the challenges
of the future rather than relitigate past issues.
"The
business community would like to see some agility, but if you cannot get consensus
because of the way in which you define consensus here, then let's allow those who
can move forward to move forward," he said. "Respect the interests of
others and let us argue about enforceability, etc. But let's get movement back into
the system. Let's make it relevant."
Patricia
Fuller highlighted the particular impact of high tariffs and other barriers to trade
on small businesses, which she said are "the most disadvantaged when it comes
to administrative barriers to market access".
She
added: "There is now much greater literacy around trade concepts and greater
interest in the value of trade." For the WTO, this presents an opportunity
to "bring more voices into the discussion, including civil society and business
representatives".
The
WTO's 2026 World Trade Report - entitled "A Critical Juncture for the World
Trading System" - was officially launched at the Public Forum.
An
innovation of the Forum this year is the co-hosting with the Geneva Trade Platform
of a series of "Curated Conversations" designed to create an opportunity
for candid policy exchanges on topics of interest to the international trade community.?
Other
high-level sessions on Day One included a business leaders' dialogue on the future
of services trade and a panel on how the WTO can contribute to balanced and sustainable
economic growth in a rapidly changing world order.
On
Days Two and Three, over 100 other sessions will be held, with many livestreamed
on the WTO website.