Creating Inclusive Global Trade w/ Bernard Kuiten

This second episode in a series of interviews conducted as part of from the WTCA’s General Assembly, held April 26-30, 2021, is hosted by Mariette Mulaire, President and CEO of World Trade Center Winnipeg, as she interviews Bernard Kuiten, Head of External Relations at the World Trade Organization (WTO). Bernard explains the role of the WTO and the role that they play in facilitating trade relations between governments. He also describes how the WTO assists organizations, specifically SMEs, with understanding and working through trade regulations.

• Bernard discusses why the WTO exists, its membership, and how they work with various governments around the world to facilitate fair trade. 3:12
• Changes and updates are difficult to make the WTO rulebook for fair trade.6:10
• The WTO is able to assist organizations in the private sector by providing training and advice, as well as having meetings with their experts to inform organizations on trade regulations. 6:50
• Bernard describes two examples where the WTO assisted organizations with information, arming them to be better informed in trade negotiations and decisions. 11:05
• The WTO is not the one who makes trade regulations, but instead it is the country governments who come together and agree on regulations. 15:41

The WTO is playing a role in intellectual property regulations and how this is coming into play with the COVID-19 vaccine.