This week is all about the WTO and global shipping.
Over the next few days, experts from the Institute of Export & International Trade (IOE&IT) will be in Geneva to talk all things trade, alongside dignitaries, business leaders, national and multinational government officials, NGOs and policy wonks from around the world.
Our policy team and director general will be in the heart of high-level discussions about how to encourage more women to enter international trade and how to ensure future trade is sustainable.
But let’s start with the UK, where the week ahead is just as glamorous.
Parliament: Ok, this time we mean it – Parliament now really is back and in full swing.
- Today, we’ll see the European Affairs Committee discuss the Windsor Framework and NI Protocol
- Tuesday, the Business and Trade Committee will hear evidence on batteries for electric vehicles, as pressure mounts on the government to push back the so-called ‘tariff cliff-edge’
- Wednesday, Natalie Elphicke will be asking a question on the Border Target Operating Model, the UK government’s plan for the future of its borders
- Thursday, we have a double bill with business and trade questions in the House of Commons and a pair of questions in the House of Lords on UK-African trade and the Electronic Trade Documents Act
Indigenous and green: On 14 September, IOE&IT trade research and policy specialist Hunter Matson will be part of a panel discussion on “Sustainable Trade: Indigenous Women’s Green Influence”.
Have a look at what else we’re up to here.
DG’s diary: From Wednesday onwards, IOE&IT director general Marco Forgione will be at the WTO public forum, joining a panel on called "Catalysing Green Trade: Indigenous Women Entrepreneurs Shaping Sustainable Policies". He’ll also be there to join in the chocolate tasting event.
London International Shipping Week – Rejoice, maritime fans in London, you are well served this week. All throughout the city, talks, networking sessions and panel discussions will be happening as part of International Shipping week, covering everything from how to move commodities across borders to geopolitics to sustainability.
Oktoberfest: For our less sober readers, we also bring news that one of our favourite German festivals returns, with Oktoberfest kicking off in Munich on Saturday. The Daily Update regrettably won’t be covering it in person, despite repeated requests.
Tech trouble: This week, both Google and Apple are dealing with competition litigation in the US and UK respectively. Today, Apple faces a three-day hearing in the UK’s Competition Appeal Tribunal, featuring claims of market abuse and misleading customers. Tomorrow, Google will go to trial in US over allegations of marketplace dominance.
In other tech news, the US Senate will be hosting an AI Insight Forum on Wednesday. Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg will be in attendance, according to reports. Perhaps we’ll finally see the much-heralded cage match between the two billionaires.
Other dates for the diary
- Monday: The Trades Union Congress annual meeting (also, confusingly, called the Trades Unions Congress) moves onto the headline acts, with general secretary Paul Nowak giving his address on the state of labour relations. Expect fireworks over the ‘anti-strike law’.
- Tuesday: Start of the NI Investment Summit. Dozens of businesses and investors – including representatives from the IOE&IT – will be attending a two-day event in Belfast to pitch for funding and advertise their business projects.
- Wednesday: European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen will deliver a State of the European Union address. As von der Leyen hasn’t indicated whether or not she’ll stand again for the top gig in European politics, could we see any hints emerge on her future?
- Thursday: The European Central Bank is expected to issue their latest rates decision on inflation rates. The Trader Support Service is also hosting a webinar about the UK Internal Market Scheme, or ‘UKIMS’.
- Friday: London fashion week opens its doors in the morning. Follow this one for tips on sartorial elegance and some possible examples of how to on sell highly priced goods abroad.
