Andrea Durkin, assistant U.S. trade representative, will deliver an opening keynote on U.S. leadership and the World Trade Organization at a symposium hosted by the university’s Clayton Yeutter Institute of International Trade and Finance on Nov. 2 at Nebraska Innovation Campus.

The symposium, “New Patterns of Trade Integration,” will run from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. It is free and open to the public and includes lunch.

At the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, Durkin is responsible for trade negotiations and U.S. policy coordination regarding matters before the World Trade Organization at a crucial time for the system, as experts and outsiders alike question its future.

“Geopolitics, a retreat from multilateralism and the intersection of trade with other policy areas have together resulted in a major re-examination of the traditional assumptions underlying trade policy,” said Jill O’Donnell, Haggart-Work Director of the Yeutter Institute. “We are thrilled to gather on campus so many distinguished international trade experts from across North America to talk through these issues in real-time with our audience, and look forward to seeing our students, faculty and community members on Nov. 2.”

Following Durkin’s keynote, a panel discussion on North American economic integration will offer U.S., Canadian and Mexican perspectives on the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement. Kenneth Smith Ramos, Mexico’s former chief negotiator for the agreement, is a featured speaker. A second panel will examine how warfare in Ukraine has impacted agriculture markets and global food security. The third session will focus on understanding the Asia-Pacific region, including how geopolitics and changing regional leadership dynamics affect security, trade and investment there. The conference will close with keynote remarks from Edward Alden, senior fellow with the Council on Foreign Relations, titled “Consensus and Accommodation: Where are the New Fault Lines in International Trade?”

Advanced registration is required. To view the full agenda and register, click here. Conference sessions also will be livestreamed.

The symposium is a biennial program of the Yeutter Institute, made possible by support from the CME Group Foundation.

The vision of Husker alumnus and renowned trade expert Clayton Yeutter, the Yeutter Institute connects academic disciplines related to law, policy, business and agriculture to prepare students for leadership roles in international trade and finance, support interdisciplinary research and increase public understanding of these issues.