This presentation takes stock of recent developments in trade and looks ahead to what we might expect. World trade growth remains weak, though recently we are seeing some green shoots. Trade liberalisation has helped. But, despite progress, several big trade liberalisation efforts have recently slowed or stalled. This is, in part, due to a change in trade policy orientation in the United States, which is taking a more defensive trade stance. The US President’s 2017 Trade Policy Agenda still supports liberalisation, but emphasises bilateral deals over larger accords. For its part, the United Kingdom has contributed to the uncertainty with its Brexit vote to leave the European Union. In view of all this, the presentation will discuss some potential sources of growth.
A turbulent time for trade
Relator: Dr. Douglas Lippoldt
Senior Trade Economist, HSBC Global Research United KingdomDouglas Lippoldt is Senior Trade Economist in HSBC Global Research, based in London. He joined HSBC in August 2014 coming from the OECD in Paris where he worked for 22 years in various roles as a senior economist. Prior to that, he served seven years as an international economist with the US Department of Labor in Washington, DC. Doug's central focus is on international trade issues. He has published extensively on trade topics as well as related aspects of economic development, labour market adjustment, innovation and intellectual property. Doug holds a PhD in Economics from the Institut d'Etudes Politiques de Paris (Sciences Po), an MA in International Studies from the University of Denver, and a BA in International Studies from Washington College in Maryland, USA. He was a Fulbright Scholar at the University of Cologne, Germany. He represents HSBC as the deputy delegate on the B20 Trade and Investment Taskforce.