Law Societies and UK and Argentinian Missions to the WTO will hold a workshop as part of the WTO Public Forum. The event will take place on 4 October at 8:30 am in the WTO building (Room S2) in Geneva.

The session looks forward to 2030, as professional services and their delivery evolve in line with technological developments, and examines the commitment of Members not to impose unnecessary barriers to trade on these services (GATS Art VI.4). Panellists and participants will discuss:

  • How digital technology can enable professional services to be traded for the first time, including for smaller and individual suppliers,
  • What barriers prevent professional service providers from taking advantage of the new opportunities,
  • How multilateral agreements to tackle these issues can drive domestic reform, taking into account the desire for regulatory freedom.]
  • HE Julian Braithwaite, Permanent Representative of the United Kingdom, will make opening remarks.
  • HE Carlos Foradori, Permanent Representative of the Argentine Republic, will make closing remarks.

Panellists:

  • Jonathan Goldsmith, Consultant in European and international Legal Services, The Law Society
  • Emily Mburu, Principal Trade Officer, East African Community (EAC) Secretariat
  • Chiedu Osakwe, Ambassador, Chief Trading Negotiator, Government of Nigeria

Moderator:

  • Hamid Mamdouh, Senior Counsel, King & Spalding LLP

Interpretation into English, French and Spanish will be available.

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