Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr LLP, the Institute of Small and Micro States (ISMS) and the British Institute of International and Comparative Law (BIICL) hosted the annual Small States conference in October 2022. The conference was the seventh in a series of conferences on issues relating to small states. The focus of the seventh conference was on Trade, Investment and Small States. 

This series of conferences has brought to the fore issues and challenges that small states are facing and has made an impact in research development. In light of the recent health crisis, environmental challenges and technological advances, trade and investment and the needs of small states have to be reconsidered. The five panels featured different perspectives regarding the state of trade and investment from distinguished experts in diverse fields from multiple jurisdictions. 

The first panel set the scene on key issues of trade and investment, the unique challenges faced by small states, as well as how these challenges can be addressed using their cultural, historical and social realities. The second panel discussed the trade disruptors, including climate change, tax regulation, and WTO challenges, as well as technical solutions. The third panel discussed AI, data, the internet, e-commerce and how they interact with trade on a regional and international level. The fourth panel considered the role of trade and investment in mitigating the disastrous effects of climate change on small states, despite their having contributed the least to greenhouse gas emissions. The fifth and final panel, at which International Arbitration partner Steven Finizio delivered the keynote, was on international dispute resolution for investment disputes, as well as for trade.

Read a full report of the conference.

See the full agenda.

Watch the full conference.

All are available to watch in full here.