Anchoring Peace in Trade Member-Driven Pathways for Economic Cooperation and Stability

As global trade faces growing fragmentation, there is a pressing need to restore trust and reimagine economic cooperation as a driver of peace. This session explores how trade can serve not only as a development instrument, but also as a strategic diplomatic platform for dialogue, stability, and peacebuilding.

Co-organized by Interpeace and the WTO's Trade for Peace Programme, the discussion will highlight emerging, member-driven pathways that operationalize peace-responsive trade engagement, particularly in fragile and conflict-affected contexts. The session builds on the leadership of states whose foreign policy is rooted in mediation and dialogue, and aims to illustrate how WTO Members can advance peace through trade.

Drawing from the WTO’s accession processes, regional integration initiatives, and innovative policy practices, the session will showcase practical methods Members have employed to reinforce the role of trade diplomacy. By complementing legal reforms with trust-building tools, these approaches demonstrate how trade can strengthen cooperation, foster resilience, and contribute to long-term peace and stability.