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Preserving Open Trade: Subsidies, Geopolitics, and International Cooperation | Highlights from the WBG-IMF Spring Meetings 2022
Preserving Open Trade: Subsidies, Geopolitics, and International Cooperation | Highlights from the WBG-IMF Spring Meetings 2022
ratings:
Length:
29 minutes
Released:
May 25, 2022
Format:
Podcast episode
Description
Trade can be an effective catalyst for growth and development. However, the growing use of market-distorting subsidies undermines the multi-lateral, rules-based trading system that has promoted trade liberalization and global growth in the past. At a time when the global economy is coping with multiple shocks, including the pandemic, the Russian invasion of Ukraine and supply chain disruptions to food and other goods, governments are increasingly turning to subsidies for relief. But the costs can be very high, in terms of public spending and distorted incentives for investment and consumption. How can international cooperation help create a fairer trading system for countries at all income levels?
During the https://live.worldbank.org/sm22/trade (2022 World Bank Group-IMF Spring Meetings), the heads of the four key global economic policy institutions—the World Bank Group, the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and the World Trade Organization (WTO)—discussed the importance of trade and global cooperation for overcoming current challenges and implications of subsidies for markets and poor countries. They called for more transparency and proactive measures to reduce their harm, especially for the largest and most distortive subsidies. Listen to the Spring Meetings highlights in a special series of https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/series/the-development-podcast (The Development Podcast).
Timestamps[00:00] Welcome and introduction of the topic
[02:54] Subsidies, trade, and international cooperation
[06:19] National self-interest vs. globalization
[08:34] The end of an era of globalization?
[11:28] Measurement of agricultural subsidies
[13:40] Subsidy and economic policy in a crisis mode
[18:03] Tackling subsidies: Politically expedient vs sensible things
[24:42] Transparency, access to information, collaboration
[26:34] Closure and thanks for tuning!
Featured voicesDavid R. Malpass, President of the World Bank Group: "We need to find a way to have trade that occurs in an efficient way to get the gains for the people around the world. It's going to help the poorest people the most."
Kristalina Georgieva, Managing Director, International Monetary Fund: "I worry most about multiple shocks simultaneously hitting us and our proven, inability to deal with more than one crisis at one time."
Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Director General, World Trade Organization: "This globalization, this multilateral trading system that has been built, it's a global public good. It took time to build it. And it has lifted more than a billion people out of poverty."
Mathias Cormann, Secretary-General, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development: "It is about having a level playing field, making sure that resources are allocated to where they can have the most beneficial economic impact for everyone and subsidies really distorted that greatly."
ABOUT THE DEVELOPMENT PODCASTThis international development podcast brings together the data, research—and solutions—that can pave the way to a sustainable future. Through conversations focused on revealing the latest data, the best research, and cutting-edge solutions, let us introduce you to the folks working to make the world a better place. Don't miss an episode! https://world-bank-development-podcast.captivate.fm/listen (Listen and subscribe for free) on your favorite platform.
ABOUT THE WBG-IMF SPRING MEETINGS 2022Preparing for future crises and strengthening international cooperation are essential to deliver a resilient recovery and a better future for those most in need. At these https://live.worldbank.org/sm22/trade (Spring Meetings), the World Bank Group convened leaders, experts and activists to discuss the impact of these global shocks on the most vulnerable communities.
ABOUT THE WORLD BANK GROUPThe http://www.worldbank.org/ (World Bank Group) is one of the world’s largest sources of funding and knowledge...
During the https://live.worldbank.org/sm22/trade (2022 World Bank Group-IMF Spring Meetings), the heads of the four key global economic policy institutions—the World Bank Group, the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and the World Trade Organization (WTO)—discussed the importance of trade and global cooperation for overcoming current challenges and implications of subsidies for markets and poor countries. They called for more transparency and proactive measures to reduce their harm, especially for the largest and most distortive subsidies. Listen to the Spring Meetings highlights in a special series of https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/series/the-development-podcast (The Development Podcast).
Timestamps[00:00] Welcome and introduction of the topic
[02:54] Subsidies, trade, and international cooperation
[06:19] National self-interest vs. globalization
[08:34] The end of an era of globalization?
[11:28] Measurement of agricultural subsidies
[13:40] Subsidy and economic policy in a crisis mode
[18:03] Tackling subsidies: Politically expedient vs sensible things
[24:42] Transparency, access to information, collaboration
[26:34] Closure and thanks for tuning!
Featured voicesDavid R. Malpass, President of the World Bank Group: "We need to find a way to have trade that occurs in an efficient way to get the gains for the people around the world. It's going to help the poorest people the most."
Kristalina Georgieva, Managing Director, International Monetary Fund: "I worry most about multiple shocks simultaneously hitting us and our proven, inability to deal with more than one crisis at one time."
Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Director General, World Trade Organization: "This globalization, this multilateral trading system that has been built, it's a global public good. It took time to build it. And it has lifted more than a billion people out of poverty."
Mathias Cormann, Secretary-General, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development: "It is about having a level playing field, making sure that resources are allocated to where they can have the most beneficial economic impact for everyone and subsidies really distorted that greatly."
ABOUT THE DEVELOPMENT PODCASTThis international development podcast brings together the data, research—and solutions—that can pave the way to a sustainable future. Through conversations focused on revealing the latest data, the best research, and cutting-edge solutions, let us introduce you to the folks working to make the world a better place. Don't miss an episode! https://world-bank-development-podcast.captivate.fm/listen (Listen and subscribe for free) on your favorite platform.
ABOUT THE WBG-IMF SPRING MEETINGS 2022Preparing for future crises and strengthening international cooperation are essential to deliver a resilient recovery and a better future for those most in need. At these https://live.worldbank.org/sm22/trade (Spring Meetings), the World Bank Group convened leaders, experts and activists to discuss the impact of these global shocks on the most vulnerable communities.
ABOUT THE WORLD BANK GROUPThe http://www.worldbank.org/ (World Bank Group) is one of the world’s largest sources of funding and knowledge...
Released:
May 25, 2022
Format:
Podcast episode
Titles in the series (30)
As COVID-19 Wreaks Havoc on Service Workers, is the Informal Sector Increasing Global Inequality? by World Bank | The Development Podcast