Inside the WTO

The WTO is supposed to govern global trade relations. But that promise is increasingly under strain. Unilateral tariffs, a paralysed dispute settlement mechanism and deepening rivalry between major powers have pushed the WTO into deadlock, with reform now firmly on the agenda. What is really behind the WTO’s current crisis? How can China and the EU be characterised within it? What is important to consider when advancing WTO reform? And where does that leave the rest of the world, particularly the Global South?

In this episode, Kiara Link hosts Dr. Clara Weinhardt, professor and researcher at Maastricht University. Together, they diagnose the WTO’s deadlock, contextualise China’s role within the institution and discuss how the EU and China might shape international trade relations under the “geoeconomic turn”, as growing economic uncertainty urges both powers to rethink their strategies. Thereby, Dr. Weinhardt shares insights from a Global South perspective to complement the dynamics of multilateral trade relations.

Stay tuned as we unpack WTO dynamics from not only a Sino-European perspective, but beyond! Check out Dr. Weinhardt’s publications if you want to know more about the WTO and the EU’s and China’s role in international trade:

• ⁠Expanding the WTO’s Scope in a Shifting Geopolitical Landscape⁠

• ⁠Revitalising and Reforming the World Trade Organization in an Age of Geopolitics⁠

• ⁠The WTO Between Two Worlds: Strategic Choices for EU Action