Tuesday, May 11, 2021

Natural disasters affect all states but for  smallest and vulnerable economies (SVEs), the situation is even more acute.  They are most susceptible to climate change which scientists predict will lead to even greater increases in the frequency and severity of climatological events like storms, hurricanes, and droughts; biological disasters like COVID-19 affect all countries but its effects are multiplied in small states And now, the eruption of the La Soufriere volcano in the Caribbean island of St. Vincent and the Grenadines threatens once again the livelihoods of those living in the smallest countries of the world.
These issues bring to the fore once again the impact that natural disasters can have on the trade of WTO Members: (How)  Do rules of the multilateral trading system hinder or help in the response, recovery and resilience effort of small and vulnerable economies?
To discuss these issues are a group of international trade experts at an event being hosted by the Shridath Ramphal Centre (SRC) of the UWI on 18 May 2021 (4 pm CEST)
Moderator:  Dr Jan Yves Remy (Deputy Director (SRC)
Speakers:
Michael Roberts (WTO)
Curtis Dennis (Consultant)
Professor Giovanna Adinolfi (University of Milan)
Ricardo James (OECS)
Dr Andrea Wilkinson (Newcastle University)