On Wednesday, June 3rd, WITA co-hosted a webinar with the American Leadership Initiative (ALI) with Congressman Ron Kind (D-WI), a senior member of the House Ways and Means Trade Subcommittee. We discussed the future of trade in the wake of COVID-19, focusing on how we can maintain an open global trading system, and the role that the WTO can play in encouraging countries not to tax or restrict the export of medical equipment and limit the calls for onshoring supply chains.
WITA Webinar Featuring:
Dr.Orit Frenkel, Executive Director, The American Leadership Initiative & President, Frenkel Strategies
Congressman Ron Kind (D-WI), Member of the House Ways & Means Committee
Webinar Summary:
This webinar discussed the future of trade in the wake of COVID-19, how international trade would affect it in the long term, and the importance of the WTO as a multilateral trading system. During this webinar, Congressman Ron Kind (D-WI) recognized that the reforms in the 21st-century institution have not been working well. During this critical time with WTO, we’re facing a real crisis when it comes to peacefully resolving trade disputes at the global level. Congressman Ron Kind (D-WI) believes that isn’t just goods and products, crossing borders. But it builds the support of multilateral trading system.
Moderator, Dr. Orit Frenkel asked Congressman Ron Kind (D-WI) the following question “Why has the WTO become such a lightning rod in US politics and how can we get people back on the same page and understand the importance?” After this question was stated, Congressman Ron-Kind (D-WI) responded by saying, “we are going to need the help of today’s society, by getting into the offices in Capitol Hill, educate them about the work of the World Trade Organization and the role that it places”. Congressman Ron Kind (D-WI) noted that we need to maintain a bipartisan consensus on trade support for the World Trade Organization. These reforms are long overdue within the Trump administration and they need to be incorporated.
Lastly, the webinar concluded with Congressman Ron Kind (D-WI), who shared with the viewers that this virus has allowed us to open up the discussion in a much more meaningful fashion of what the workforce skills and education are necessary to compete globally. How do we make it easier for people to be able to work, and balance life struggles. He believes that our administration hasn’t done a good job in international trading in the United States, compared to other nations. Hence, he suggested that we shouldn’t be afraid to look at other countries’s models and how they create multilateral trading system with other delegations.