Thursday, October 10, 2019

The World Trade Organization in Crisis

This panel will explore longstanding challenges and current crises at the World Trade Organization and their potential impacts, such as: self-declaration of developing country status; how the WTO will view the national security exception in light of unilateral actions by the U.S. and others to impose tariffs on national security grounds; and efforts to reform the WTO Appellate Body and what could happen if it ceases to function at the end of 2019.

The Yeutter Institute's fall conference "What's on the Horizon for International Trade?" was presented in cooperation with the Nebraska Farm Bureau.

Moderator

Ken Levinson

CEO, Washington International Trade Association and WITA FOUNDATion

Levinson serves as the CEO of the Washington International Trade Association and WITA Foundation. WITA is the world’s largest non-profit, non-partisan membership organization dedicated to providing a neutral forum for the open and robust discussion of international trade policy and economic issues. Ken has over 30 years of experience working with companies, associations, NGOs and governments, advocating innovative solutions to complex public policy challenges. Over the years, Ken has worked with clients in the technology, telecommunications, biopharmaceuticals, agriculture and food, financial services, retail, apparel, energy, and consumer products sectors. Early in his career, Ken advised U.S. Senator John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV on foreign policy and national security matters and served as the Senator’s chief advisor on the U.S. Senate Finance Committee, dealing with issues related to international trade and tax policy.

Speakers

John M. Weekes

Senior Business Advisor, Bennet Jones, LLP, Ottawa and former Ambassador of Canada to the World Trade Organization

Warren Maruyama

Partner, Hogan Lovells, former General Counsel, Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, and former Associate Director for International Economic Policy, White House Office of Policy Development

Warren Maruyama is a Partner at Hogan Lovells, whose practice focuses on U.S. and international trade law, negotiations, policies, and disputes. Warren served as General Counsel of the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (2007-2009), Associate Director for International Economic Policy on the White House staff (1989-1992), USTR Associate General Counsel (1983-1989), and staff attorney at the U.S. International Trade Commission (1980-1983).