The WTO in practice

In today's episode, we consider the bastion of the international trading system, the World Trade Organization. The organisation regulates trade policy on a day-to-day basis, overseeing the ground rules that still underpin most types of international trade. In an era of growing protectionism and geopolitical rivalry, are there limits to what the WTO can still achieve? Or is it precisely what is needed to keep the wheels of global trade turning? To discuss these questions are Ana Peres (University of Sussex), Gabriel Siles-Brügge (University of Bristol), John Clarke (Maastricht University / Royal Asiatic Society) and our host Chris Horseman (Borderlex).

The EU's Industrial Accelerator Act and its ‘Made in Europe’ mechanism support its industry by encouraging purchasers to buy local. But how do you define European? How much of a risk does this Act pose for British industry? Finally, is there not a simpler way of dealing with Chinese imports? Joining the discussion are Pinar Gunes (CITP / University of Sussex Business School), William Bain (British Chambers of Commerce), Sam Lowe (Flint Global / Most Favoured Nation newsletter) and our host Chris Horseman (Borderlex).

This episode of Trade Bites was recorded in front of a live audience at the WTO Public Forum. The theme of this year’s Public Forum focused on the vital role of the services sector in enabling and driving growth in trade. Our panellists examine the critical role that services trade plays for the security and resilience of supply chains. They discuss how digitisation and new digitally delivered services may have reduced or increased supply chain security; whether services supply chains themselves have become more vulnerable; and how services used in supply chains are affected by investment flows. Joining our host Chris Horseman (Borderlex) are Ingo Borchert (CITP / University of Sussex), Sabina Ciofu (TechUK) and Kholofelo Kugler (Besso).

In this episode, we're reflecting on the Brexit referendum that happened 10 years ago this month and changed the UK's trade policy trajectory overnight. Our speakers examine how Brexit affected UK trade and UK attitudes to trade, as well as the approach to and the outcomes of autonomous UK trade policy. The discussion also considers the future and where Britain may go next as it navigates a chaotic international policy landscape, and how that positions the UK for the trade policies of the future. Joining our host Chris Horseman (Borderlex) are Emily Lydgate (CITP), Ignacio García Bercero (Bruegel), Anand Menon (UK in a Changing Europe) and Allie Renison (SEC Newgate).

In this podcast, we examine the regional dimensions of UK trade policy. Trade affects everyone in every part of the United Kingdom, and the primary responsibility for external trade policy lies with the central UK government in London. However, a lot of the policy areas that are directly affected by trade, most notably agriculture, are controlled by the devolved administrations in Belfast, Cardiff, and Edinburgh. So how does this all fit together? How much say do Northern Ireland and our newly elected devolved governments in Wales and Scotland have over UK trade policy? How does devolution work for trade? To address these questions, are David Barnes (Scottish Government), Alexander Fitzpatrick (QUB / CITP / Wales Governance Centre), Lindsey Garner-Knapp (CITP / University of Sussex), Andrea Begley (Department for the Economy NI) and our host Chris Horseman (Borderlex).

What did MC14 deliver for developing countries in Africa? In this episode, His Excellency Geraldo Saranga, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Mozambique to the WTO and His Excellency Ambassador Professor Muhammadou Kah, Ambassador of The Republic of the Gambia to the WTO, share their views on the outcomes of the 2026 WTO Ministerial Conference. To what extent was the MC14 agenda really aligned with African governments' priorities? And what needs to happen to achieve an international trading system which works in the interests of developing countries in Africa? Hosted by Chris Horseman (Borderlex).

The US Government has put tariffs front and centre of its economic policy since Trump's second administration began at the start of last year. After implementing tariffs in April 2025, the US has subsequently raised and lowered tariffs and negotiated exemptions and add-ons for different countries and different sectors. In February this year, the implementation of the ‘Liberation Day’ reciprocal tariffs was ruled illegal by the US Supreme Court, and a flat rate tariff of 10% was applied under different legal act. In this podcast, we discuss the net result of these past 12 turbulent months, looking at how trade has responded to the tariffs and the potential longer-term effects of tariffs to the world trading system. To address these questions, are Jun Du (Aston Business School / Centre for Business Prosperity), Emanuel Adam (BritishAmerican Business), Tim Figures (Boston Consulting Group) and our host Chris Horseman (Borderlex).

President Trump’s keen concern for the US’s substantial trade deficit with the rest of the world played a key role in driving the US tariffs imposed last year, which have disrupted trade and upended the international rules-based trade system. In this episode we ask why is Trump so concerned by a trade deficit, how worried should a country be if it is importing more than it exports, what are the economics that underpin the international trade balance sheet, and how much does it matter? To discuss these questions, are Alasdair Smith (CITP / UKTPO / University of Sussex), Soumaya Keynes (Financial Times), Neil Shearing (Capital Economics) and our host Chris Horseman (Borderlex).

In today's episode, we examine the result of the World Trade Organization's recent ministerial conference in Cameroon, MC14. It ended with no agreement on WTO reform, and no agreement either to continue a long-standing moratorium on imposing import duties on electronic transmissions. Where does MC14 leave the WTO as an organization? Joining this discussion with our host Chris Horseman (Borderlex) are Ana Peres (UKTPO / University of Sussex), Dmitry Grozoubinski (ExplainTrade) and Marco Molina (Molina & Associates).

In this episode, we look at proposals for the UK to join a customs union with the EU. We clarify what is a customs union and discuss whether could it improve trade between the EU and the UK and boost to our economy, as well as what the EU’s position might be. Providing a clear assessment of the pros and cons of customs union membership between the EU and the UK are Michael Gasiorek (CITP / University of Sussex), Richard Rumbelow (Make UK), Anton Spisak (Centre for European Reform) and our host Chris Horseman (Borderlex).