Global trade policy and governance are in the spotlight. In the era of Brexit and Trump, the backlash against globalisation is growing and protectionist rhetoric is on the rise, challenging the conventional trade-led growth models that have sought to bring prosperity to developing countries for decades.

But this is not the only challenge facing global trade. New forms of trade and production are arising because of profound technological advances and new trade agreements. These, along with the need to advance public policy objectives in view of the Sustainable Development Goals, require reflection on existing trade governance provisions. Conventional trade-related support programmes need to adapt in order to more effectively realise the potential gains from trading within global value chains – the new trade reality.

This event features the launch of Future Fragmentation Processes, a major publication from the Commonwealth Secretariat with contributions from ODI, that explores the changing nature of global trade in global value chains and the relative position of Commonwealth small states. Our expert panel discusses how to avoid damaging trade-offs between trade and technological advancement that risk harming the economic prospects of the world’s poorest and most vulnerable.