The US in the World Trading System: The Tariffs and WTO Reform

Wednesday, March 4, 2026

5:00 - 6:00 p.m. (Eastern)

Furman Hall 334 and via Zoom

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About the speaker

Alan Wm. Wolff is a senior fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics and former deputy director-general of the World Trade Organization. His work focuses on WTO reform and responding to the role of the United States, the European Union, and China in the international trading system. At the WTO, he oversaw key divisions, founded the Trade for Peace Initiative, and chaired the Consultative Framework Mechanism for Cotton Development Assistance. Earlier, he served in senior roles in multiple US administrations, including as deputy special representative for trade negotiations and general counsel at the Office of the US Trade Representative. He was a principal draftsman of the basic US law creating a mandate for trade negotiations. His recent publications include a book on the future of the trading system, entitled Revitalizing the World Trading System (Cambridge University Press 2023). It was selected by the Financial Times as one of best books of 2023 in economics. He holds a JD degree from Columbia University and an AB degree from Harvard College.