What We're Covering This Week

The continuing government-wide shutdown is curtailing US officials participation in trade-related events this week – and forcing the cancellation of some.  But the annual meetings of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund are drawing a lot of high-level foreign trade and financial officials, including a visit by World Trade Organization Director General Roberto Azevêdo.

Here’s what we plan on covering –
●        on Monday a George Washington University program on the internet and trade, with speakers from the Mexican and Swedish embassies, along with a finance minister from Estonia.
●        also on Monday the American Society for International Law sponsors a session on the “electronic Silk Road,” with New Zealand Ambassador Mike Moore.
●        Tuesday WTD will be at the Johns Hopkins School for Advanced International studies to hear Chinese Ambassador Cui Tiankai talk about US-China relations.
●        The NDN holds a seminar on US-Mexico relations, perhaps with Assistant Secretary for Homeland Security Alan Bersin.  On Thursday the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars will hold a program on US-Mexico relations.
●        On Wednesday we will participate in the annual National Foreign Trade Council dinner with Sen. Ron Wyden.
●        Thursday SAIS will host visiting Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Ali Babacan.  Later in the day he will be at the US Chamber of Commerce.
●        Also on Thursday the US Chamber of Commerce will host several finance ministers from the Pacific Alliance countries of Colombia, Chile, Mexico and Peru.
●        The World Bank will sponsor a seminar on the rise of the middle class and services in Latin America and the Caribbean, with World Bank President Jin Yong Kim.
●        The Carnegie Endowment for International Peace hosts a discussion on India’s growth potential with visiting Finance Minister Paloniappan Chidahbaram.
●        On Friday the Kazakhstan Embassy sponsors a program on regional economic integration.
●        The Council on Foreign Relations hosts a session with French Minister of Economy and Finance Pierre Moscovici.
●        The Woodrow Wilson Center holds a session on Brazil’s economy.
●        The Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee conducts a hearing on the government shut-down and US economic security.
●        Friday is when WTO Director General Azevêdo speaks to the US Chamber of Commerce.

See you there.