Katherine Tai Study Group: Trade Shaping New World Order: View from South Africa

Trade has shaped economic and political dynamics within and between countries throughout history. While we have spent previous weeks examining various aspects of trade’s impact on the United States, through a U.S. lens, this week we take a step outside of this frame by welcoming one of the most thoughtful, learned, strategic, and accomplished former ministers from the “trade ministerial circuit” to the study group.

Ebrahim Patel, South Africa’s former Minister of Trade, Industry & Competition, will explain how trade has shaped the course of South Africa’s history and development; what the role of trade in addressing the climate crisis can and should be; how the U.S. is being perceived in recent years by one of the leaders of the “Global South;” and where the opportunities for a future globalization may lie.

GUEST: Ebrahim Patel, Former Minister of Trade, Industry & Competition, Republic of South Africa

AUDIENCE: These conversations are open to members of the Harvard community. Please RSVP with a valid Harvard email address. 

OFF-THE-RECORD: In keeping with our long tradition at the IOP to ensure honest and candid discussions of politics, all IOP study groups are off-the-record.