On September 15, the 2026 edition of the WTO Public Forum kicked off in Geneva, Switzerland, under the theme “Powering the Future”. Over three days, the forum welcomed more than 4 600 participants from business, governments, civil society, academia and international organisations in discussions on trade in services as a key engine of development, source of income and a driver of job creation and empowerment worldwide.
The public forum is the WTO’s largest annual outreach event. This year’s edition featured a record 540 speakers across 113 sessions. Many breakout sessions, networking opportunities and cultural events provided an unparalleled opportunity for WTO members and other attendees to interact and engage on key issues facing global trade.
Representing more than two thirds of global gross domestic product (GDP) and employing more people than any other sector, trade in services is not just a driver of global economic growth; it is the most dynamic component of world trade. In 2026, services trade volume is projected to expand by 4.8%, significantly outpacing trade in goods.
The forum kicked off with a high-level panel exploring how technological innovation, geopolitical shifts, climate issues and evolving business models will shape the trading system of the future. Jointly organised by the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) and the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD), the session gathered the WTO Director-General, Ngozi Okonjo‑Iweala, WTO Dispute Settlement Body Chair and Brazil’s WTO Ambassador, Guilherme de Aguiar Patriota, ICC Secretary General, John Denton, and IISD President and CEO Patricia Fuller. Moderated by the Peterson Institute for International Economics Senior Fellow, Inu Manak, the session examined how international cooperation and trade can contribute to prosperity, sustainability and trade opportunities for future generations.
Okonjo‑Iweala reminded the audience that over 70% of world trade is conducted under the WTO’s most-favoured nation rules providing stability for businesses. But she also acknowledged the need for WTO reform.
“There is now much greater literacy around trade concepts and greater interest in the value of trade,” Okonjo‑Iweala said, adding that, for the WTO, this presents an opportunity to “bring more voices into the discussion, including civil society and business representatives”.
The WTO’s 2026 World Trade Report, A Critical Juncture for the World Trading System, is accessible at https://www.wto.org/english/news_e/news26_e/wtr_15sep26_483_e.htm
This year, the forum co-hosted, with the Geneva Trade Platform, a series of “curated conversations” designed to create an opportunity for candid policy exchanges on topics of interest to the international trade community.
Other high-level sessions on the first day included a business leaders’ dialogue on the future of services trade and a panel on how the WTO can contribute to balanced and sustainable economic growth in a rapidly changing world order.
On the second and third days, over 100 other sessions were held with many livestreamed on the WTO website.
The full programme is accessible at https://www.wto.org/english/forums_e/public_forum26_e/pf26_programme_grid_e.htm