Activities
The Friends of Multilateralism Group
Instructions for participation in FMG events
- When participating in events organized by the FMG either virtually or in person, participants should indicate their names, titles and their affiliation (for example, Amb./PR XXX, “France”or “French Mission to the WTO”).
- Affiliations should reflect the official nomenclature used by the WTO.
- IGO and NGOs should use their official affiliation (for example,“WEF” or “World Economic Forum”).
- When making interventions, participants should also use the above-mentioned nomenclature.
WTO Reform >>
FMG Fireside Chat with WTO Director-General on WTO Reform
On 7 September 2026, the Friends of Multilateralism Group (FMG) organized a fireside chat with WTO Director-General Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala at the WTO to mark the 10th anniversary of FMG. The meeting was held in a hybrid format, with 11 FMG members participating in...
FMG Webinar on Global Imbalance and WTO Reform
On 2nd July, 2026, the Friends of Multilateralism Group (FMG) organized FMG Webinar on Global Imbalance and WTO Reform. Bernard Hoekman, FMG Member, Professor at the European University Institute in Florence, moderated the meeting. At the meeting, Sébastien Jean,...
Dialogue with Alec Erwin: Session 04 of FMG High-level Dialogue Series “The Future of WTO Reform”
On 17 June, 2025, the Friends of Multilateralism Group (FMG) organized FMG High-Level Dialogue Series on The Future of WTO Reform, 4th Session: Dialogue with Alec Erwin. Trudi Hartzenberg, FMG Member, Executive Director of the Trade Law Centre (tralac) and WTO Chairs...
Dialogue with Arancha González: Session 03 of FMG High-level Dialogue Series “The Future of WTO Reform”
On 21 May, 2025, the Friends of Multilateralism Group (FMG) organized the 3rd session of its High-Level Dialogue Series on The Future of WTO Reform: Dialogue with Arancha González. Victor Do Prado, FMG Member and former Director of Council and Trade Negotiations...
Trade Policy Preview (TP-P) >>
FMG “Trade Policy Preview” (TP-P) Session on the UK
On 14 October 2025, the Friends of Multilateralism Group (FMG) organized the 13th session of its “Trade Policy Preview” (TP-P) brainstorming series on Australia. Willy Alfaro, FMG member and e former Director of Trade Polices Review Division at the WTO moderated this...
FMG “Trade Policy Preview” (TP-P) Session on Australia
On 26 Feb 2025, the Friends of Multilateralism Group (FMG) organized the 11th session of its “Trade Policy Preview” (TP-P) brainstorming series on Australia. Xiankun Lu, CEO of FMG moderated this session. Simon Evenett, FMG member and coordinator of Global Trade...
FMG Internal Briefing on Plastics Pollution and Environmentally Sustainable Plastics Trade
On 21st April 2023, the Friends of Multilateralism Group (FMG) organized an internal briefing by José Valencia, Ecuador's WTO Ambassador on the Dialogue on Plastics Pollution and Environmentally Sustainable Plastics Trade (IDP). Hamid Mamdouh, FMG member and former...
FMG Internal Briefing on Fossil Fuel Subsidy Reform (FFSR)
On December 7, 2022, the Friends of Multilateralism Group (FMG) organized an internal briefing by Clare Kelly, New Zealand’s Ambassador to the WTO and Michelle Slade, Principal Adviser of Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Trade and Economic Group on fossil fuel...
FMG Webinar on Tax Credits aspects of the US IRA, WT DS 623
On 6 March, FMG organized a webinar to discuss the Panel Report (WT/DS623/R) on Tax Credits aspects of the US IRA. This webinar was moderated by Gabrielle Marceau, FMG member and former legal adviser at the WTO. At this session, Deepak Raju, counsel at the Geneva...
Session 1: WTO’s Arbitral Decision on Chinese SEP Practices in DS611
On 4 September, 2025, the Friends of Multilateralism Group (FMG) organized the first session of FMG “WTO Disputes Decoding Series”. Gabrielle Marceau, FMG member and Honorary Professor (Emeritus) at the University of Geneva moderated this session. At the...
WTO Public Forum >>
2023 WTO Public Forum
From 12th to 15th Sept 2023, the WTO Public Forum was held at the WTO premises in Geneva. The Friends of Multilateralism Group has actively participated in this year’s public forum. The sessions that FMG members and Friends of FMG have spoken at are listed below....
2022 WTO Public Forum
From 27th to 30th Sept 2022, the WTO Public Forum 'Towards a sustainable and inclusive recovery: ambition to action' was held at the WTO premises in Geneva. The Friends of Multilateralism Group has actively participated in this year’s public forum. The sessions that...
Covid-19 and Trade >>
FMG & PEG brainstorming on Trade and Health
On May 11th 2021, Friends of Multilateralism Group (FMG) and The Punta del Este Group (PEG) co-organized an online brainstorming on Trade and Health. This session was based on following papers: Proposal by South Africa and India (Waiver from certain provisions...
FMG and PEG Virtual Brainstorming with Ricardo LAGOS and Pascal LAMY on Covid-19
On 4th May 2020, The Friends of Multilateralism Group (FMG) and The Punta del Este Group (PEG) co-organized a virtual brainstorming titled “Corona Crisis: Sharing a few thoughts”. H.E. Ricardo LAGOS, former President of Chile and Pascal LAMY, former WTO...
Others >>
FMG Webinar on “How to Win a Trade War”
On 18th June, 2026, the Friends of Multilateralism Group (FMG) organized a webinar on the new book “How to Win a Trade War” co-authored by Chad Bown, Senior Fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics (PIIE) and Soumaya Keynes, economics columnist for...
FMG Internal Briefing on UNCTAD report “Primer on data for trade in services and development policies”
On 10 April, FMG held an online internal briefing on UNCTAD’s recent report "Primer on data for trade in services and development policies". This session was moderated by Sherry Stephenson, one of the FMG Board members and former Senior Fellow with the International...