Reconsidering the International Trading System

How can the international trading system be brought back onto its past successful track? By making the actual levels of liberalization binding and anchoring non-discrimination everywhere in the system or by striving for a low level of trade barriers? How can the system be strengthened against emerging threats of protectionism?

Do we need a pause in today’s liberalization talks and instead concentrate on agreeing on formulas for future liberalization and - even more important - on simple formulas for exceptions from WTO principles? What is the right balance between regionalism and multilateralism? Do reforms require compensation of losers inside the system or outside?

What are the problems that businesses in the current international trading system and how can these problems be alleviated within the existing institutional system?