World Trade Forum 2025

• Robert Schuman Centre for Advanced Studies
• GGP: Global Governance Programme

The World Trade Forum happens every year between the the EUI Robert Schuman Centre and the World Trade Institute (University of Bern). This year, practitioners, policymakers, and researchers will gather in Florence to discuss the widespread disruption of the world trade order caused by the United States' unilateralism, as well as possible responses to it.

The multilateral rules based trading system is under immense pressure. The United States has unilaterally increased import tariffs by an order of magnitude and is demanding preferential access for its exports, actions that violate its WTO commitments. Companies have to make investment decisions in a much more uncertain context, as governments are changing their approach to trade and investment policy to enhance economic security while also addressing global challenges such as climate change. The 2025 World Trade Forum conference, a joint venture of the EUI Robert Schuman Centre and the World Trade Institute (University of Bern), will consider possible responses to U.S. unilateralism in trade and consequences for affected countries through a mix of plenary sessions bringing together practitioners and policymakers from Europe and East Asia & Pacific, staff from international organisations and researchers working on international trade and development.  

If you are interested in attending the Forum in person, please email RSCAS.Conferences@eui.eu to be added to the reserve list, as the venue has reached full capacity. Otherwise, online participation remains available, please register using the link below.

At the EUI and the Robert Schuman Centre, we are dedicated to removing barriers and providing equal opportunities for everyone. Please contact the logistics organiser at RSCAS.Conferences@eui.eu to indicate your accessibility needs, if any.