The Centre for Trade and Investment Law (CTIL), Indian Institute of Foreign Trade, in partnership with the South Asia International Economic Law Network (SAIELN), organised a Virtual Trade Talk on “The Future of Multilateral Trade Governance and the Role of the WTO” on 27 April 2026. The Trade Talk featured Shri Amitabh Kumar, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India, as the Guest of Honour and Prof. Mark Wu, Henry L. Stimson Professor of Law, Harvard Law School, as the Keynote Speaker.

The discussion focused on the evolving role of the World Trade Organization (WTO) in governing multilateral trade, particularly in light of emerging geopolitical, technological, and economic challenges. The discussion examined the WTO’s core functions-monitoring, negotiation and dispute settlement—and assessed their effectiveness in addressing current trade dynamics.

Shri Amitabh Kumar, in his address, highlighted the WTO’s foundational role as a rules-based multilateral institution. He emphasised the importance of consensus-based decision-making and the continued relevance of special and differential treatment for developing countries and underscored why these are necessary to maintain a level-playing field for all WTO Members. He also underlined concerns relating to the increasing reliance on plurilateral approaches and the proliferation of non-tariff measures.

The session examined the challenges confronting the WTO’s dispute settlement mechanism, particularly the continued non-functionality of the Appellate Body since 2019. The discussion also addressed the erosion of key principles such as the most-favoured-nation (MFN) obligation and the growing invocation of national security exceptions in trade measures.

Prof. Mark Wu provided an assessment of the WTO’s institutional functions. He noted that while the monitoring function remains active through committees and trade policy reviews, negotiations continue to face challenges. He also pointed out that the dispute settlement system remains impaired due to Appellate Body’s paralysis and discussed how interim mechanisms such as the Multi-Party Interim Appeal Arbitration Arrangement (MPIA) provide partial solutions.

Prof. Wu also examines the broader structural factors affecting the WTO, including geopolitical contestation, technological transformation, and global economic imbalances. The discussion highlighted that these factors contribute to a period of transition for the multilateral trading system, with implications for the WTO’s future role and functioning.

The Trade Talk was moderated by Professor James J. Nedumpara, Professor and Head, CTIL, and India Chair, WTO Chairs Programme.

The session concluded with an interactive discussion with participants on issues relating to dispute settlement, consensus-based decision-making, and the future trajectory of multilateral trade governance.

Multilateral trade governance faces pressure as WTO dispute settlement, consensus decision-making, and special treatment for developing countries are reassessed. Multilateral trade governance is being reshaped by geopolitical contestation, technological change, and economic imbalances, with the World Trade Organization's future role assessed in light of these pressures. The discussion examined the WTO's core functions of monitoring, negotiation, and dispute settlement, and noted that monitoring through committees and trade policy reviews remains active while negotiations face persistent difficulty. The dispute settlement system was described as impaired by the continued non-functionality of the Appellate Body, with interim arrangements providing only partial solutions.