This article was published before we became the Chartered Institute of Export & International Trade on 10 July 2024, and this is reflected in references to our old brand and name. For more information about us becoming Chartered, visit our dedicated webpage on the change here.

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An exciting week in international trade begins, as the Institute of Export and International Trade’s (IOE&IT) inaugural Import Export Show will be held on Wednesday (15 November).

This week, leaders from the US, China and ASEAN nations will descend on San Francisco to facilitate free trade at the annual Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, while young professionals will meet in Geneva for the World Trade Organization’s (WTO) Youth Summit.

Import Export Show – The debut of IOE&IT’s trade show will be held in the City of London’s Leonardo Hotel, featuring parliamentary speakers including Baroness Neville-Rolfe DBE CMG, minister of state for the cabinet office, and Kevin Hollinrake MP, minister for enterprise, markets and small business.

Alongside expert panels on key trends in international trade, the event also includes the inaugural International Trade Awards, which celebrate excellence in international trade over a range of categories, including Young Trader of the Year, Rising International Trader and SME of the Year.

APEC – The 30th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum will take place on Wednesday and Thursday. Leaders from either side of the ocean and ASEAN nations will gather in San Francisco to discuss and promote free trade across the region.

While US treasury secretary Janet Yellen has attempted to downplay geopolitical tensions arising from the US-China tech trade dispute in recent weeks, all eyes will  be on presidents Joe Biden and Xi Jinping, who haven’t met since last year’s G20 summit in Indonesia.

Cabinet changes – Following this morning’s cabinet reshuffle, which saw the sacking of home secretary Suella Braverman, the political agenda turns to the controversial Rwanda immigration policy. On Wednesday, the Supreme Court rules on the Court of Appeal’s decision to block the immigration policy.

WTO’s Youth Summit – Taking place today (13 November) and tomorrow from the WTO’s Geneva headquarters, the summit encourages young trade professionals and researchers aged 20–35 to discuss important issues related to gender and trade.

IOE&IT’s academic board chair, professor Sangeeta Khorana, will be presenting a talk “Gender and Digitalisation in Trade” to attendees.

Other dates in the diary:

Monday – Following the Bletchley Park summit, science, innovation and trade secretary is giving a speech on AI in Washington DC

Tuesday – Continuation of King’s Speech debate on economic growth in the House of Commons

Wednesday – Supreme Court ruling on the Home Office’s Rwanda asylum seeker plan as well as two other important cases on payment protection insurance and contract law

Thursday – Spain’s parliament will vote to approve a government led by the Spanish Socialist Workers’ party (PSOE), after president Pedro Sanchez secured a deal with Catalan parties to support his bid to remain in power

Friday – Release of EU inflation figures and UK retail sales figures

Saturday – Just Stop Oil’s “People vs. Oil” event will see protesters march through London

Sunday – The Pacific Games begin in the Solomon Islands