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G-2 Conference and Hackathon Challenge 2021- How To Make The WTO Fit For Future Trade
Organized by:
CTEI, Institute of International Economic Law || Georgetown Law & GTP
Place:
Virtual Meeting
Date:
14 Apr 2021
Start time:
15:00
Theme:

The World Trade Organization (WTO)

About

This year, our annual G2 Conference will take a new spin. At a moment when trade is challenged by the COVID-19 pandemic and a resurgence of protectionist sentiments, and the WTO faces crisis across many of its core functions, we want to elevate new, fresh perspectives with bold ideas for the WTO’s path forward. Our focal point will be a three day hackathon for students from around the world, on: ‘How to Make the WTO Fit for Future Trade.’ The most innovative proposals will be featured on the day of the conference.

This event is co-organised by CTEI, the Institute of International Economic Law || Georgetown LawGeneva Trade Platform and will take place on 14 April 15:00-20:00CET.

 

The G2 – Hackathon Challenge 9-11 April & finalist selection on 14 April 2021

At a moment when trade is challenged by the COVID-19 pandemic and a resurgence of protectionist sentiments, and the WTO faces crisis across many of its core functions, the organizers of the 2021 G-2 hackathon want to elevate new, fresh perspectives with bold ideas for the WTO’s path forward.

We are challenging teams of students (2-4 per team) from anywhere in the world to collaborate and in just 72 hours, develop a fully considered and legally sound proposal for an outcome at the WTO that meaningfully addresses an issue that will be shared at the launch of the Hackathon (9 April 2021). Team members will need to be available from 9-11 April and 14 April afternoon 15:00-20:00 CET.

To answer the hackathon challenge, your team will be asked to do four things:

  • Define the substantive issue that your team is addressing (500 words).
  • Propose a specific treaty text, or more informal commitment/declaration, text that addresses the concern or a particular, detailed aspect of it (200 words).
  • Suggest a legal/technical or institutional way to implement your textual, substantive proposal within the broader WTO framework (500 words).
  • Prepare a short video summarising the issue and your team’s solution (3-5 minutes)

Teams will be evaluated by a panel of eminent legal and trade policy experts on (i) the creativity of their solutions, (ii) the rigor of their legal drafting, (iii) the feasibility of their proposed path forward and (iv) the clarity of their presentation.

The top three teams will present their proposals during a special panel at the G-2 conference and the winning team will receive a cash prize of USD 3,000 followed by USD 2,000 & USD 1,000 for the second and third runner up respectively. The winning team will also have their proposal published as a policy brief or working paper on the Centre for Trade and Economic Integration (CTEI) at the Graduate Institute and at the Institute of International Economic Law, Georgetown Law websites.

Please register your team* to the Hackathon HERE before the 26th of March, 2021, 23:59 CET. More information on the hackathon will be shared with registered participants on a dedicated portal of the Beyond Trade Network.

*A team should be composed of 2-4 students. All participants in the team need to be current undergraduate, masters or PhD students at the time of participating in the Hackathon. Should one of your team members not be eligible s/he will disqualify the entire team. The students can be from any university or law school in the world.

 

For nearly twenty years, the Georgetown University Law Center in Washington DC and the Graduate Institute in Geneva (the “G2”) have hosted leading conferences on transatlantic and global trade law. One of the most important academic events of its kind, the G2 Conference annually convenes practitioners, WTO Secretariat staff and Members, and NGO stakeholders to discuss the status and future of international economic law, and its intersection with regional developments. The Conference typically alternates between Washington, D.C. and Geneva. However, due to the pandemic, we have decided to move the programming online in 2021.

The combination of the COVID-pandemic, election of a new WTO DG, a new US Administration, as well as other developments in the world of trade, call for a reinvigorated WTO.

In this spirit we have made attracting and elevating new, younger perspectives with fresh eyes and bold ideas on the WTO’s challenges and opportunities the goal of this year’s conference. Our focal point will be a three day hackathon for students from around the world, on: ‘How to Make the WTO Fit for Future Trade’. The most innovative proposals will be featured on the day of the conference and receive prizes, both monetary and otherwise.

The Conference will be composed of the following core elements, across half a day:

  • A key note opening speech
  • A plenary session: What Legal Path to WTO Plurilaterals?
  • The hackathon plenary (where the three finalists present their solutions and discuss them with the jury, including WTO Member representatives)
  • A closing plenary: Appellate Body Reform – The Path Ahead. Towards the end of this session, the winner of the hackathon is announced
  • Networking sessions during the breaks
  • A career session with law firms

 

This conference has been organized thanks to the kind sponsorship of Mr. Sergey Popov.