The training kicked off at the Hinrich Foundation office in Singapore with a welcome address by the Foundation’s Chief Executive Officer Kathryn Dioth. Research Fellow Alex Capri discussed the upheavals in trade, changes in the US-China relationship, export controls, reshoring, and climate change. Senior Research Fellow Stephen Olson delivered the keynote address on global trade’s inflection point.

Retired Singaporean diplomat, Bilahari Kausikan unpacked the geopolitical and geoeconomic impact of the war in Ukraine on the region and the world at large on the second day, with insights on what is in store for the future of the world economy and how countries should interpret the developments in the US-Russia-China dynamic. The questions posed by the Trade Fellows raised concerns over the impact of the Belt and Road Initiative, the US-China rivalry, and an apparent comeback of the era of conventional warfare on the future of trade and economic stability. Deborah Elms, Executive Director at the Asian Trade Centre presented a comprehensive summary of the various regional trade agreements in Asia-Pacific and the extent to which they have helped facilitate trade in various domains.

International trade economists from the National University of Singapore led the dialogue on the rise of the Chinese economy – the story so far and what the future holds. Through detailed and careful data analysis and scenario-building exercises, they highlighted the transformational moments in history that have led to the massive growth of the Chinese economy and key future events that could prove decisive for China, such as the US-China tariff war, the Communist Party congress, and potential WTO reforms.

Digital trade is another area that needs regional and international cooperation for policy coherence to effectively regulate cross-border data flows, data localization, digital currencies, etc. A panel discussion on digital trade facilitation highlighted the need for international cooperation in the digital domain, emphasizing the cross-border nature of barriers to trade in financial services.

The week-long training session wrapped up on 28 July with two conversations on the impact of trade agreements and negotiations on human rights and labor rights records of countries, and the influence of US policy positions on Asian trade. The sessions included field visits to Gardens by the Bay, the Port Innovation Centre, and a vertical farming site.