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The OECD Global Forums on Trade bring together trade policy makers, academics, industry representatives and other experts from OECD and non-OECD countries to exchange views on current trade policy issues. It is often with a focus on issues of importance in trade relations between developed and developing countries and on the role of the international community in supporting developing countries with their integration efforts.

The Global Forum on Trade conference series is organised under the auspices of the OECD’s Trade Committee in support of its objective to “improve understanding of the benefits and costs of further trade liberalisation, so as to increase support for an open, rules-based multilateral trading system".

ICITE, Trade, Jobs and Inclusive Growth
OECD Conference Centre, Paris, 8-9 November 2011

The 2011 Global Forum on Trade (GFT) represents the culmination of the first wave of work under the OECD-led International Collaborative Initiative on Trade and Employment (ICITE), a project that brings together 10 international organisations in an effort to deepen our understanding of the linkages between trade and jobs and to develop policy-relevant conclusions. ICITE is mobilising resources world-wide in an extensive programme of research, dialogue and communications. The first wave of work has spanned dozens of papers and three regional conferences (in Asia, Latin America and Africa).

Previous forums

• Globalisation, Comparative Advantage and Trade Policy, Chengdu, People's Republic of China, 14-15 October 2010
• Global Forum on Trade and Climate Change, Paris, 9-10 June, 2009
• Globalisation and Emerging Economies, Paris, 25-26 June, 2008
• Trade, Innovation and Growth, Paris, 15-16 October, 2007
• A Trade Policy Dialogue on the Multiple Dimensions of Market Access and Development, Mexico City, 23-24 October, 2006
• Negotiating on Trade Facilitation: Implications for Developing Countries, Colombo, 18-19 October, 2005
• Trade and Structural Adjustment, Bangkok, Thailand, 2004

The Forum aims to foster a deepened understanding of the benefits of trade liberalisation and rules strengthening, with particular attention to the development dimension and trade-related policy reforms.

These policy dialogue events aim to contribute to the expansion of trade and the wider sharing of the benefits of globalization, and to the increased integration of non-member economies, including those who have recently acceded to the WTO or will accede in the near future, in the world economy and the multilateral trading system. The dialogue is based on regular analysis to evaluate and strengthen the process of policy reform and trade liberalisation through forward-looking analysis, and addresses emerging trade policy issues.

Themes for the Global Forum on Trade have revolved around issues of the current round of multilateral trade negotiations including in such areas as market access, impact of erosion of preferences, services liberalization, non-tariff barriers, trade facilitation and special and differential treatment. Another common theme has been the challenges of globalization, with attention paid to the benefits as well as the interaction of trade and adjustment policies and trade and innovation.

Trade policy makers, academics, industry representatives and other experts from OECD and non-OECD countries.