The term “international financial architecture” is currently experiencing a resurgence in popularity thanks to the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development (FfD4), scheduled for June 30 to July 3, 2025, in Spain. Despite the extensive discourse surrounding this concept since the late 1990s, there is no universally accepted definition of what is meant by the term “international financial architecture” (IFA). Generally speaking, IFA refers to a comprehensive framework comprising institutions, agreements, policies, rules, and practices that govern the global financial and monetary system. Amongst others, it includes:

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Ever since the Conference of Parties (COP) to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) first met in 1995, effective implementation of the commitment taken by the developed countries to “provide new and additional financial resources to meet the agreed full costs incurred by developing country Parties in complying with their obligations” has received considerable attention. This was more so in the 29^th COP (COP29) held at Baku in November 2024 which was expected to operationalise two new financial mechanisms for developing countries, namely, the New Collective Quantified…

US President-elect Donald Trump made two promises that were not only laced with populism, but were also presented as the essential elements of his economic policy. First, he promised an across-the-board increase in import tariffs: 60% tariffs would be imposed on US imports from China, while imports from all other trade partners would range from 10-20%, and higher than 200% for vehicles from Mexico. Secondly, pledged the US would “take other countries’ jobs” if he returned to the White House, as he unveiled his plans to drastically reduce taxes…

As President-elect Donald John Trump returns to the White House, all eyes are on the critical decisions shaping his second-term agenda regarding cross-border trade, immigration, climate-related policies, and deregulation initiatives. In particular, his protectionist trade agenda outlined during the campaign trail for the 2024 elections will have major repercussions for the United States and the world at large. His return has sparked concerns about potential disruptions to cross-border trade flows and what his second term means for global trade and multilateral trade rules.

As the world grapples with the potential…

Later this month, Trade Ministers of the World Trade Organization (WTO) would meet for their 13^th Ministerial Conference (MC13) in Abu Dhabi at a time when the multilateral trading system is losing its existential battle. This “ruled-based organisation” mandated to ensure orderly conduct of global trade through a set of rules that were mostly negotiated before 1990 when the organisation had less than 100 members. Over the past four and a half decades, the needs and aspirations of members in the realm of trade have changed beyond recognition as…