Issue No. 06 January 2026
Start the Year by Opening Doors in Trade
Sponsor a TradeExperettes Membership. Support the Next Generation of Trade Leaders.
As we begin the new year, we invite our community to turn reflection into impact by sponsoring a TradeExperettes membership.
For early-career professionals and students, access to mentoring, skills training, and global networks can be transformative. An annual membership costs just USD 50, with fees already waived for members from developing countries and LDCs, ensuring access where it is needed most.
A sponsored membership opens the door to TradeExperettes’ core programmes, including Mentorettes, SkillsLabs, Confidentials, and Webinars.
By sponsoring a membership, you are strengthening a global, women-led community committed to inclusive leadership and advancing #TradeAsAForceForGood.
IN THE LOOP
Recent events
From London to Around the Globe: A Season of TradeExperettes Highlights
From high-level policy discussions in London to digital trade capacity-building in the lead-up to MC14 in Yaoundé, the final months of 2025 showcased the breadth and energy of the TradeExperettes community. Between October and December, members connected to exchange ideas, sharpen professional skills, and engage with the evolving realities of global trade.
This season brought together policymakers, practitioners, academics, and early-career professionals through in-person events, Skills Labs, mentoring initiatives, and confidential career conversations. Whether discussing the future of trade policy, building interview and application skills, or supporting inclusive participation in digital trade negotiations, TradeExperettes continued to create spaces where expertise, experience, and ambition meet.
Stay connected as we continue to unlock new opportunities for our members in the coming year. Together, let’s keep building a vibrant community dedicated to advancing #TradeAsAForceForGood.
Ready to join our growing network? Become a member today!
TE MONTHLY MEET AND GREET SESSION
October 07, 2025
Throughout the final quarter of 2025, TradeExperettes continued its monthly Members-only Meet & Greet sessions, held on the first Tuesday of each month. These informal gatherings provided a dedicated space for members to connect, exchange experiences, and strengthen professional networks in a relaxed setting. The sessions reinforced TradeExperettes’ commitment to community-building and peer support across regions and disciplines.
Watch your inboxes for updates and be sure to sign up for the next 2026 Meet and Greet!
THE FUTURE OF TRADE POLICY
October 14, 2025
TradeExperettes partnered with Global Counsel to host an in-person panel discussion in London on “The Future of Trade Policy: The UK’s role in the changing global trade.” The event convened policymakers, industry experts, and trade professionals to reflect on the UK’s evolving trade and industrial strategies amid growing geopolitical and economic uncertainty. The panel featured:
Amanda Brooks, Director General for Trade Negotiations, UK Department for Business and Trade
Helen Kennett, Director, Trade and Industrial Policy, Global Counsel
The discussion explored the UK’s strategic positioning in the global trade system, the intersection of trade and industrial policy, and the implications for businesses navigating a more fragmented international environment. The evening concluded with a networking reception.
TE MENTORETTES 2025–2026 EDITION
October 17, 2025
TradeExperettes launched the next edition of its flagship TE Mentorettes mentoring programme, designed to support members at different stages of their careers in international trade. The programme paired mentees seeking guidance on career development with experienced TradeExperettes members serving as mentors, encouraging structured knowledge-sharing and professional growth.
Running over an approximately five-month period (October 2025 to February 2026), TE Mentorettes aimed to help participants clarify career pathways, build confidence, and strengthen their professional voice, while fostering stronger connections and a sense of community across the TradeExperettes network.
TE SKILLSLAB: JOB INTERVIEW SESSION
October 22, 2025
TradeExperettes hosted a Skills Lab “Job Interview” practice session, offering members a practical and supportive environment to refine their interview skills. Participants had the opportunity to practice interviews tailored to their target roles, receive constructive peer feedback, and exchange insights with fellow TradeExperettes experienced in recruitment and hiring processes. The session emphasized confidence-building, clarity of messaging, and effective self-presentation in professional settings.
TE SKILLSLAB: CRAFTING YOUR GRAD MOTIVATION LETTER
November 7, 2025
Designed for members preparing applications to graduate programmes in trade-related fields, the session focused on understanding how applications are assessed and how candidates can stand out. The discussion was led by:
Michelle Egan, Professor at American University’s School of International Service, Director of the Transatlantic Policy Centre, and Non-Resident Fellow at the German Marshall Fund
Neha Mishra, Assistant Professor at the Geneva Graduate Institute
Both speakers shared insights from their experience evaluating applications and supporting students across multiple academic systems. The session concluded with an interactive Q&A, allowing participants to discuss their own application challenges in a confidential setting.
TE STORIES: A CHAT WITH AMY PORGES
December 7, 2025
TradeExperettes hosted a confidential edition of TE Stories, featuring a conversation with Amy Porges, a leading trade lawyer with more than four decades of experience across government, international institutions, and private practice. Moderated by Sanvid Tuljapurkar, Lead of Sustainable Trade Law at Tulip Consulting and TradeExperettes member, the session explored Amy Porges’ career at the USTR, the GATT Secretariat, and in international litigation. She shared candid reflections on navigating high-stakes negotiations, bridging law and policy, and building a career across public and private sectors. The session included a live Q&A with participants.
TE DIGITAL ROAD TO YAOUNDÉ
December 11, 2025
TradeExperettes continued its “Road to Yaoundé: Digital Trade Readiness Series”, a capacity-building webinar initiative supporting developing and least-developed country delegates and ministries in preparation for the WTO’s 14th Ministerial Conference (MC14) in Yaoundé. The series addresses key digital trade issues, including governance frameworks, data flows, artificial intelligence, and cross-border e-commerce, with a strong focus on inclusive participation in global digital trade discussions.
🔗Watch the recording
🗓️Session 2 on 22 January 2026: How Is Digital Trade Governed? AI, Data, and Cross-Border Regulation
THE LATEST SCOOP
Top content to revisit
TEN TRADE WINS: 2025 EDITION
While headlines debate what’s next for trade, the real story lies in what it has already delivered. TradeExperettes’ Ten Trade Wins showcases concrete examples of how open trade policies are improving lives, solving global challenges, and fueling inclusive growth across the world.
No. 1. The Box That Grew Trade | By Hanna C. Norberg and Arushi Vaishnav
No. 2. Trade Drives Sustainable Energy | By Elizabeth Henning Ravesteijn
No. 3. Going Paperless Has Reshaped Trade for the Better | By Silvia Sorescu
No. 4. Global Trade Makes Food Safe and Affordable | By Darci Vetter
No. 5. WTO Committees Keep Agricultural Trade Moving | By Jill O’Donnell
No. 6. IPRs Have Increased Pharmaceutical Access | By Emily Michiko Morris
No. 7. Trade Agreements Have Helped Prohibit Forced Labor | By Desiree LeClercq (Ganz)
No. 8. China’s Trade Reforms Lifted Hundreds of Millions Out of Poverty | By Yan Zhang and Huan Zhu
No. 9. The Success of Service Sector Reform in Morocco | By Rebecca Ygberg Amayra and Deborah Winkler
No. 10. The EU-Vietnam Trade Agreement Brings Together People and Businesses | By Cecilia Malmström
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The year 2024 marks a global election cycle with over 80 countries, representing more than half of the world’s population casting their votes. In these uncertain times, the world finds itself confronted by a state of “polycrisis”—a complex web of interconnected global challenges that transcends borders. Geopolitics and international trade have a critical role to play in driving solutions to these crises.
As many countries continue to navigate the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, the world contends with other pressing issues such as the increasing urgency of tackling climate change and addressing the fragmentation of traditional geopolitical alliances. As nations confront various stressors, including ongoing conflicts in several regions around the world, these interconnected issues have heightened uncertainties and undermined the previously robust support for open trade.
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BY JAVERIA MARYAM – In today’s integrated global economy, international trade is often seen as a tool to boost female workforce participation. However, achieving sustainable and inclusive growth requires gender-sensitive trade policies to ensure equitable benefits for all.
Gender-differentiated roles and gender-biased business practices exist in global markets, causing women to be more disadvantaged.
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BY ŞEYMANUR YÖNT – On January 24, 2024, the EU announced its strategy on outbound investments with the objective of establishing a comprehensive outbound screening policy. Although the policy outcome will not be known until 2025 at the earliest, the EU is likely to introduce an initiative resembling the US outbound investment screening regime. But the EU is not the US. Introducing such a regime will be a challenge for the EU.
TRADE [S]HEROES
Showcasing the work of a leading woman in trade policy
NICOLE BIVENS COLLINSON is a Managing Principal, Operating Committee, and International Trade and Government Relations Practice Leader with Sandler, Travis & Rosenberg, P.A. She is located in the Washington, D.C., office. Ms. Collinson is a commentator on trade matters and has appeared on MSNBC, NPR, and BBC Worldwide. She is also the producer of the podcast Two Minutes in Trade, available wherever you listen to podcasts.
You can find her more extended biography here: https://www.strtrade.com/professionals/j-nicole-bivens-collinson.
MARK YOUR CALENDARS!
TRADEEXPERETTES MONTHLY MEET AND GREET
Join our members-only Meet & Greet sessions!
Every first Tuesday of the month, connect in an informal, welcoming space designed to help you get to know fellow members and build meaningful professional relationships.
📅 Upcoming sessions:
February 3, 2026
March 3, 2026
April 7, 2026
Forge new connections and expand your global trade circle in a relaxed setting. Watch your inbox for updates and be sure to RSVP for the next Meet & Greet!
CURATED SERIES: ROAD TO YAOUNDE
Road to Yaoundé: Digital Trade Readiness Series: Session 2
📅January 22, 2026
The TradeExperettes are pleased to invite you to join the upcoming “Road to Yaoundé: Digital Trade Readiness Series” a special capacity-building webinar initiative designed to support developing and least developed countries’ delegates and ministries in their preparations for the WTO Ministerial Conference (MC14) in Yaoundé.
This webinar series will explore critical issues shaping the future of digital trade, including governance frameworks, data flows, artificial intelligence, and cross-border e-commerce, with a clear focus on empowering negotiators and policymakers from developing countries to engage effectively and inclusively.
The registration link - open to colleagues from Missions and Capitals - is available here.
TE NEW YEAR PARTY
Happy New Year 2026!
TradeExperettes is kicking off the year together. Join us for our New Year Party on as we toast new beginnings, fresh ideas, and the year ahead with our community. Expect good conversations, familiar faces, and a few new ones too. Watch your inbox for details and come celebrate the New Year with us.
📅January 23, 2026
TradeExperettes thrives through volunteer dedication and the generous support of individuals and organizations committed to advancing women trade experts. Your contributions directly sustain our diverse programs and help extend memberships to professionals from developing countries, LDCs, and students requiring financial assistance.
Click here to support us.
Edited by Arushi Vaishnav. Newsletter layout designed by Ricardo Ashimi.