Informal Learning and WTO Renewal

WTO committees hold so-called „thematic sessions“. These informal meetings help to adopt a more forward looking agenda than the usual committee routine does. They also provide an opportunity to bring in outside stakeholders and experts on specific topics of interest to the world trading community. Finally, they can help to bridge the divide between Geneva and trade policymaking in capitals. However, the use of thematic session can still be further enhanced. This paper analyses the use of thematic sessions across committees and recommends a more systematic approach to addressing gaps in WTO rules, better support for such activities and better documentation.