WASHINGTON – On the margins of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank Group Spring Meetings, global trade association ITI, in partnership with the National Foreign Trade Council (NFTC), hosted World Trade Organization (WTO) Deputy Director-General Johanna Hill and senior trade and tech decision-makers for a discussion on the intersection of AI governance, digital trade rules, and global competitiveness.
In a fireside chat with ITI President and CEO Jason Oxman, Deputy Director-General Hill shared insights on the AI and trade landscape, followed by a panel featuring NFTC Vice President for Global Trade Policy Tiffany Smith and representatives from Applied Materials, IBM, and Toyota on the critical role trade rules play in supporting or hindering companies’ ability to develop and deploy AI globally.
WTO Deputy Director-General Johanna Hill said: “Just like the tech industry and wider business sector, the multilateral trading system finds itself in the face of a fast-changing technology driven environment. The WTO rulebook provides governments with tools to promote various aspects of the digital economy and help address cross-border risks. At the same time, it’s important that cooperation amongst members and others be strengthened to address the rapidly shifting trading landscape. The WTO stands ready as a forum for governments to engage on key issues shaping an enabling environment for trade, particularly for digital trade.”
ITI President and CEO Jason Oxman said: “Trade serves as a catalyst for global economic leadership, continued innovation, and robust AI development and deployment. Today’s conversation at ITI reiterated the importance of building on foundational digital trade principles that have supported technological progress for decades. We appreciate Deputy Director-General Hill’s leadership and look forward to working with the WTO and other policymakers to ensure global trade rules remain fit for an AI era.”
NFTC Vice President Tiffany Smith said: “Artificial intelligence has galvanized global attention for its transformative potential. Trade rules and regulatory frameworks will shape how rapidly and effectively AI can deliver on its promise. The WTO has played an important role in amplifying how such rules can advance AI. I want to thank ITI for convening us today, and the WTO and DDG Hill for their continued leadership on these issues.”
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About the NFTC
The National Foreign Trade Council (NFTC) is the premier business association advancing trade, tax, national security and supply chain policies that support access to the global marketplace. Founded in 1914, NFTC promotes an open, rules-based global economy on behalf of a diverse membership of U.S.-based businesses, who account for over $6 trillion in revenue and employ nearly 6 million people in the United States.
