Two very busy weeks in Geneva

After returning from New Delhi, where he taught the general course on WTO law at the 2023 Academy of International Trade Law and Policy at the Indian Institute of Foreign Trade, Prof Peter Van den Bossche, the WTI Director of Studies, discussed on 14 June with ambassadors and delegates of WTO Members the forthcoming report on Principles for Consideration in the Design and Implementation of Trade-Related Climate Measures and Policies by the International Expert Group on Trade-Related Climate Measures. Other members of the International Expert Group participating in this event organized by Colombia in cooperation with Forum on Trade, Environment & the SDGs (TESS) were Prof. Makane Moise Mbengue (Université de Genève) and Dr. Jan Yves Remy (Shridath Ramphal Centre for International Trade Law). 

On 17 June, Peter Van den Bossche presided over the Grand Final of the 2023 John H. Jackson WTO Moot Court Competition. In an exceptionally high-quality final session, the team from the University of Ottawa (uOttawa) narrowly defeated the team from the National University of Singapore (NUS). Nicole Teo from the team of NUS was awarded the WTI Prize of Best Orator, which consists of a full tuition fee waiver for the MILE or TRAIL+ advanced master’s programmes at the WTI.

From 21 to 23 June, Peter Van den Bossche participated as member of the Advisory Board of the WTO Chairs Programme (WCP) in the 2023 Annual Conference of the WCP. This year’s conference brought many of the 35 WTO Chairs to Geneva for discussions with WTO senior officials and ambassadors of WTO Members on investment facilitation, digital trade, trade and environmental sustainability, dispute settlement, and re-globalization. Peter Van den Bossche chaired a session on academic curriculum development by WTO Chairs.