The Centre for Trade and Investment Law (CTIL), Indian Institute of Foreign Trade, in partnership with the South Asia International Economic Law Network (SAIELN), successfully organised a Virtual Trade Talk on “The Future of Multilateral Trade Governance and the Role of the WTO” on 27 April 2026. The session featured Shri Amitabh Kumar, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India, as Guest of Honour; Prof. Mark Wu, Henry L. Stimson Professor of Law, Harvard Law School, as Keynote Speaker; and Prof. James J. Nedumpara, Professor and Head, CTIL, as Moderator. The discussion examined the evolving challenges confronting the multilateral trading system, including the functioning of the WTO’s dispute settlement mechanism, the rise of plurilateral approaches, the increasing use of national security exceptions, and the broader implications of geopolitical and technological developments for international trade governance. The deliberations also addressed the continuing relevance of the WTO’s monitoring and negotiation functions, the role of consensus-based decision-making, and the future trajectory of multilateral cooperation in international trade. The session concluded with an interactive discussion with participants on issues relating to dispute settlement, institutional reform, and the future of the WTO in a changing global economic landscape.