Trade Policy 2020

Stiftung Lilienberg Unternehmerforum
Ermatingen, Switzerland
In German

Co-organized with the Stiftung Lilienberg Unternehmerforum

 

  • Global trade is at a crossroads. Liberal tenets of past decades are increasingly being challenged by critical voices, casting doubts over the benefits of further international trade liberalization. The belief in global trade as a driver for economic wellbeing has taken a serious hit – even more so since the financial crisis. Structural change, growing inequalities and increasing need for environmental action have led to a fundamental rethinking of trade policy priorities.

    The goal of this conference is to shed light on these developments and to deepen the debate on trade policy priorities in Switzerland. The event targets decision makers and opinion leaders in business, policymaking, government, civil society, academia and the media, to explore the topic with a broad array of stakeholders, to sketch alternative desirable roadmaps for Swiss trade policy in 2020 and to contrast them with current priorities.

  • The following agenda is the English translation of the program. The conference will be held in German.

    08:30-09:00Registration and Coffee
    09:00-09:10

    Welcome and Introduction

    Christoph Vollenweider; Stiftung Lilienberg Unternehmerforum
    09:10-09:50 World Trade at a Crossroads

    Speech

    Thomas Cottier; former Director, World Trade Institute
    09:50-10:30Trade Policy Developments in Switzerland

    Speech

    Remigi Winzap; Senior Advisor on Trade Policy, Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO)
    10:30-11:00Break
    11:00-12:30Free Trade 2.0: Opportunities, Risks and Stumbling Blocks

    Speeches

    Agricultural Trade
    Mathias Binswanger; Professor, University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland (FHNW)

    Investment Agreements
    Elisabeth Tuerk; Chief, International Investment Agreements Section, UNCTAD

    Trade in Services
    Johannes Schwarzer; Fellow, Council on Economic Policies

    12:30-14:00Lunch
    14:00-15:30Trade Policy Priorities for the Future

    Workshops

    Agricultural Trade
    Andrea Franc, PostDoc, University of Basel
    Moderation: Armin Müller, Member of the Editorial Board, Tages-Anzeiger and Sonntagszeitung

    Democracy and Trade
    Charlotte Sieber-Gasser, PostDoc, University of Lucerne and Lecturer, University of St. Gallen
    Moderation: Yves Wegelin; Deputy Chief Editor, WOZ

    Trade in Services
    Stefan Giger; Secretary General, Public Services Union (VPOD)
    Moderation: Simon Schmid; Chief Economist, Handelszeitung

    15:30-16:00Break
    16:00-17:15Trade Policy 2020

    Panel Discussion

    Luciano Ferrari; Deputy Secretary General and Head Policy, SP Schweiz

    Jürg Maurer; Deputy Head, Economic Policy, Migros-Genossenschaftsbund

    Regine Sauter; Member of the National Council (FDP/ZH)

    Hannes Schloemann; Director, WTI Advisors

    Christoph Vollenweider; Stiftung Lilienberg Unternehmerforum (Moderation)


    17:15-18:00Drinks Reception

  • Please RSVP via the website of Stiftung Lilienberg Unternehmerforum.