31st Parliamentary Intelligence-Security Forum – International Trade

Hon. Angela Ellard emphasized the critical role of the World Trade Organization in maintaining a stable, rules-based global trading system. Drawing on her experience both at the WTO in Geneva and previously as Chief Trade Counsel to the U.S. House Ways and Means Committee on Capitol Hill, she underscored the importance of legislative engagement in trade policy, given its deep impact on citizens and national economies.

She argued that despite increased unilateral trade actions, particularly by the United States, the WTO remains highly relevant. The organization extends beyond tariffs, covering services, intellectual property, agriculture, industrial standards, and emerging areas such as artificial intelligence and climate-related trade issues. While acknowledging that many members have violated trade rules at times, she stressed that the multilateral system continues to function, with most global trade still conducted under most favored nation principles. Ellard noted that retaliation to recent trade tensions has been limited, as countries recognize that escalation would harm their own economies. Instead, many are pursuing negotiation and new trade partnerships. She also highlighted the successful adoption of the WTO Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies as evidence that consensus-based multilateral cooperation remains possible. While recognizing the institution’s challenges, particularly its consensus decision-making model, she emphasized ongoing reform efforts to strengthen governance, address development concerns, and modernize rules. She concluded that the WTO is worth preserving and reforming, warning that a world without shared trade rules would be far more unstable and economically damaging.