WISC Dialogues: NYU Law Professor Robert Howse

NYU WISC Dialogues: WTO and the New Geopolitics of Trade

Guest: Robert Howse, Lloyd C. Nelson Professor of International Law at NYU School of Law

DRI Director Mark Kennedy and NYU Law Professor Robert Howse explore how the World Trade Organization (WTO) can adapt to a rapidly changing global economy shaped by strategic competition, supply chain resilience, and technological transformation. The discussion examines the assumption that deeper economic integration is always beneficial, as governments increasingly balance the advantages of open trade with concerns about national security, critical minerals, pharmaceuticals, digital technologies, and artificial intelligence. It also considers how new forms of cooperation, including plurilateral agreements could strengthen the rules-based trading system while addressing emerging geopolitical realities.

The conversation also highlights practical reforms that could modernize the WTO without fundamentally changing its institutional framework. Topics include expanding opportunities for technology transfer, supporting small and medium-sized enterprises through AI and digital innovation, improving trade finance for developing economies, and strengthening dispute settlement through more flexible mechanisms. Throughout, the discussion emphasizes that the WTO remains an essential institution whose continued relevance will depend on its ability to evolve alongside the changing demands of the global trading system.