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BWC Winter 2021 Newsletter
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It has been a busy few months at BWC. We are pleased to update you on recent happenings and upcoming events. We hope you will join us for next week's webinar, keep up to date on the activities of our working groups, and consider making an end of year contribution to support BWC activities. Best wishes this holiday season!
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The WTO in Uncertain Times: A Transatlantic Partnership for Reform?
Monday, December 13, 10:00-11:00 AM ET/4:00-5:00 PM CET
Zoom Virtual Event | Register Here
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Anabel González
Deputy Director General
WTO
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Ignacio Garcia Bercero
Director Multilateral Affairs, Strategy and Economic Analysis, DG Trade
EU Commission
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Dr. Claudia Schmucker
Head of the Geo-Economic Program
German Council on Foreign Relations (DGAP)
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Jeffrey Schott
Senior Fellow
Peterson Institute for International Economics
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The World Trade Organization (WTO) has been dealing with a number of systemic challenges which require meaningful progress on crucial issues, including: responding to the COVID-19 pandemic, reforming the dispute settlement system, reaching agreement on fisheries subsidies, updating trade rules for the transitions to digital and green economies, and tackling market-distorting policies and practices.
What are the key issues that the WTO and its members should prioritize in the future? The Aspen Institute of Germany and The Bretton Woods Committee are jointly convening a panel of experts and thought leaders, to analyze the priorities and future deliverables for the WTO during this critical time for global trade and for the transatlantic relationship.
The event will be on the record, and a video will be made available on our website after the event.
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Save the Date: BWC Annual Meeting
April 19-22, 2022
The Annual Meeting will feature leading speakers from the IMF, World Bank, industry, and government sectors. BWC members will have the opportunity to participate in high-level discussions. This will be a hybrid event, with sessions taking place in Washington, DC and on Zoom.
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Climate Finance: Post-COP26 Reflections on Net-Zero Future Imperatives & Feasibility
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Thursday, Nov. 18, 2021 -- The COP26 summit brought governments, civil society and the private sector together to accelerate action towards the goals of the Paris Agreement and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). BWC members who attended COP26 gave their reflections on conference outcomes and expressed optimism about the transition to a net-zero economy but indicated that it remains to be seen whether policymakers can deliver on promises.
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Rome Investment Forum (RIF) 2021
Thursday, Dec. 2, 2021
BWC Advisory Council member Meg Lundsager represented the Bretton Woods Committee in the "Washington Session" of the RIF 2021, on Public and Private Agendas for the Post-Covid Global Transitions: Reforms and Resiliency Plans, which closed out the conference on Thursday, December 2. OECD Secretary General Mathias Corman opened the session.
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BWC Working Groups
In order to increase our efforts to support the IFIs, BWC is launching working groups, and members are invited to participate. Working groups will provide members an opportunity to work together to address some of the most challenging issues facing the IFIs. The groups will write papers, host webinars, lead panel discussions and provide practical, actionable solutions to the IFIs.
The Future of Finance Working Group will hold its initial meeting on December 15th. The group will focus its first two projects on digital currencies and climate finance. Following the release of the President’s Working Group’s Stablecoins Report (Press Release), FFWG co-chairs Bill Dudley and Afsaneh Beschloss have been meeting with the U.S. policymaking and regulatory community – SEC Chair Gary Gensler, Treasury Undersecretary Nellie Liang and former FSB Chair and Fed Vice Chair Randy Quarles – to inform BWC's digital currency project which will kick off early next year.
The Legislative Working Group has been working to shore up financial support for the World Bank. Every 3 years, the World Bank raises funds to replenish its International Development Association (IDA) – its lending arm for the world’s poorest countries. The donor pledging session for the next 3-year cycle (IDA20) will take place Dec. 14-15. BWC has encouraged Sec. Yellen and the U.S. to aim high with its commitment to ensure developing countries have the resources they need to continue their Covid response and recovery.
The Sovereign Debt Working Group has been hard at work drafting its paper and recommendations on Incentivizing Debt Transparency. Group members have been conducting critical consultations with stakeholders including debt experts at the IMF, World Bank, AIIB, AfDB, OECD and the ratings agencies to inform their policy recommendations for a global debt transparency agenda. The final paper will be released in January 2022.
For more information or to join a working group, contact BWC Program Director, Elena Tosana.
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Support BWC
Thank you to everyone who made a financial contribution to BWC on Giving Tuesday. We are honored to have your support.
BWC is incorporated as a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization in the U.S. We are funded entirely by member dues, event sponsorships, and donations. If you haven’t already done so, we hope you will consider BWC in your end of year giving. Donations can be made on our website or by designating BWC as your nonprofit of choice through AmazonSmile.
As always, thank you for your support!
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Members Perspectives
BWC members are important global thought leaders. Check out some of their recent work.
To have your work featured in this newsletter, on the BWC website, and on our social media channels, email it to secretariat@brettonwoods.org.
Views expressed below do not represent any viewpoint of the Bretton Woods Committee.
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Share Your Work!
The Bretton Woods Committee is happy to promote members’ work. If you’ve recently published an article, report, or opinion piece, send it to us at secretariat@brettonwoods.org.
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BWC Board member Colm Kelleher has been nominated to become chair of UBS. A vote on the nomination will take place at the bank’s annual general meeting on April 6. Financial Times
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Have you had a job change or received special recognition or an award recently? Let us know! Email us at secretariat@brettonwoods.org to share your news.
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Know someone who might be a good addition to The Bretton Woods Committee? Nominate them using this form or contact Robin Muthig, Director of Membership and Giving at RMuthig@brettonwoods.org
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Holiday Office Hours
The Bretton Woods Committee offices will be closed December 24th-31st. We look forward to working with you in the new year!
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