event
Center for Trade and Economic Integration
Wednesday
13
May
Trade Restrictions, Sustainable Development and the Law

BOOK LAUNCH: "Trade Restrictions, Sustainable Development and the Law: International and Regional Perspectives"

CTEI
, -

The fab, Petal 2, floor 4, Maison de la paix and zoom

Trade Restrictions, Sustainable Development and the Law: International and Regional Perspectives examines the legal dimensions of trade restrictions at a time of growing geopolitical fragmentation and strain on the multilateral trading system. Drawing on international and regional case studies, with a particular focus on Qatar, it explores the effectiveness of dispute settlement mechanisms and strategies to strengthen trade resilience. The book brings together scholarly and practical insights into how trade law can support sustainable development. Join the co‑editors for a Geneva policy discussion hosted by leading academic and diplomatic institutions.

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Trade Restrictions, Sustainable Development and the Law: International and Regional Perspectives (Routledge, 2025) arrives at a moment when trade multilateralism is under sustained pressure, supply chains are fracturing along geopolitical lines, and the WTO dispute settlement system remains in search of stable footing. Drawing on international and regional case studies — with the State of Qatar as a principal lens — the volume interrogates the legal frameworks governing trade restrictions, assesses the capacity of dispute resolution mechanisms to deliver timely outcomes, and offers practical tools for building trade resilience. Join us for a Geneva policy discussion with the volume's co-editors, Professor Damilola Olawuyi, SAN and Dr. Ahmed Al-Sulaiti, hosted by the Centre for Trade and Economic Integration at the Geneva Graduate Institute, in partnership with the International Law Association, GCC Branch; the UNESCO Chair on Environmental Law and Sustainable Development; and the Permanent Mission of the State of Qatar to the United Nations Office and other international organizations in Geneva.

AGENDA

  1. OPENING SESSION: 18h00 - 18h05
    Welcome Remarks - Dmitry Grouzoubinki - Executive Director of Geneva Trade Platform
  2. KEYNOTE ADDRESS: 18h05 - 18h15
    Speaker (online): H.E. Dr. Hind Abdulrahman Al Muftah - Permanent Representative of the State of Qatar to the United Nations Office and other international organizations in Geneva.
    Topic: Safeguarding International Trade Law Objectives in Times of Crises
  3. FORMAL PRESENTATION OF THE BOOK: 18h15 - 18h40
    Speakers:
    - Professor Damilola Olawuyi SAN - Professor, Associate Dean for Research and UNESCO Chair on Environmental Law and Sustainable Development, Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), Doha, Qatar
    - Dr. Ahmed Essa Al-Sulaiti (online) - President of the International Law Association (GCC Branch), Lecturer at the College of Law, Hamad Bin Khalifa University.

    Moderator:
    - Unyime Enbong Eyo - IHEID alumnus, MINT'25

    Discusions Themes
    - Trade Restrictions and the Sustainable Development Nexus (Damilola)
    - Protecting Trade and National Interests through Strategic Dispute Resolution (Ahmed)
    - The Role of Regional Institutions in Times of Trade Restrictions (Dmitry)
    - Enhancing Trade Resilience in Times of Crises (all speakers)
  4. Q&A SESSION: 18h40 - 18h50
    - Open floor for questions from participants
    - Responses from panelists

  5. CLOSING REMARKS: 18h55 - 19h00
    Centre for Trade and Economic Integration at the Geneva Graduate Institute

    Please register using the link here to attend in person.
    Please register using the link here to attend online.

Professor Damilola Olawuyi SAN, FCIArb 

Professor Damilola Olawuyi is Associate Dean for Research at Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU) in Qatar, where he holds the UNESCO Chair on Environmental Law and Sustainable Development. He serves as Chair of the United Nations Working Group on Business and Human Rights and is widely recognised as a leading authority on international trade law, energy law, and sustainable development. Professor Olawuyi is the editor of Trade Restrictions, Sustainable Development and the Law: International and Regional Perspectives (Routledge, 2025), which draws on contributions from academics and practitioners across multiple jurisdictions to examine the legal dimensions of trade restrictions and their implications for sustainable development.

 

Ahmed_AlSulaiti
Dr. Ahmed Essa Al-Sulaiti, HBKU
 
Dr Ahmed Essa Al‑Sulaiti is a Lecturer at the College of Law, Hamad Bin Khalifa University, and a licensed lawyer admitted to practice before the Appellate Court in Qatar. A former senior diplomat, he previously served as Director of the Office of the State of Qatar to the WTO, WIPO and UNCTAD, and represented Qatar in multilateral negotiations and dispute settlement proceedings in Geneva. With over 14 years of experience in international law and diplomacy, his expertise spans international trade, intellectual property, national security, and strategic dispute resolution. Dr Al‑Sulaiti currently serves as President of the International Law Association (ILA) – GCC Branch and is widely recognised for his work on international dispute settlement and trade governance. He is co‑editor of Trade Restrictions, Sustainable Development and the Law: International and Regional Perspectives (Routledge, 2025).
H.E. Dr. Al-Muftah
H.E. Ms. Hend Abdalrahman Al‑Muftah
 
H.E. Ms. Hend Abdalrahman Al‑Muftah is the Permanent Representative of the State of Qatar to the United Nations Office at Geneva, the World Trade Organization, and other international organizations in Switzerland, a position she has held since July 2022. She has an extensive academic and leadership background spanning higher education, public administration, and human resource management. Prior to her diplomatic appointment, she served as Vice President for Administration and Finance and Associate Professor at the Doha Institute for Graduate Studies, and previously held senior roles at Qatar University and the Qatar Foundation. In 2017, she became one of the first women appointed to Qatar’s Shura Council. H.E. Ms. Al‑Muftah holds a PhD in Human Resources Management from the University of Exeter and has published widely on human capital and institutional development.

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