Free trade 'will not go away' - leaders and experts weigh in on trade in a post-COVID world (BY Christopher Alessi Digital Editor, World Economic Forum)

"We need to give a real jolt to the whole multilateral trade system."

—John W.H. Denton, Secretary General, International Chamber of Commerce

 

"All major players should work together to make the WTO great again."

—Shi Jingxia, Professor, China University of International Business and Economics

 

"When you really think about it, most of what happens in a trade transaction is trading data. By facilitating that, you're really facilitating global trade."

—Alisa DiCaprio, Head of Trade and Supply Chain, R3

 

"You're seeing Republicans become more trade sceptical and Democrats become more supportive of trade."

—Scott Lincicome, Senior Fellow, Cato Institute

 

"We should continue to ensure that the enabling environment around trade, as well as trade itself, does not create any kind of bias."

—Penelope Naas, Senior Vice-President, International Public Affairs and Sustainability, UPS

 

"What's really needed is a global trade architecture that's responsive to the new opportunities" afforded by the digital age.

—Karan Bhatia, Vice-President, Government Affairs and Public Policy, Google Inc.

 

"Digital trade is an opportunity to expand availability, choice and lower the price."

—Jesus Seade, Undersecretary for North America, Secretariat of Foreign Affairs of Mexico