Name: Trade Policy Day 2026
Start: 2026-10-14T09:00:00
End: 2026-10-14T17:30:00
Location: Charlemagne Building

Date: 14/10/2026, 09:00-17:30
Location: Hybrid – in the Alcide de Gasperi room, Charlemagne Building, European Commission; and online

Why should I attend Trade Policy Day?

In recent years, international trade has been shaken by conflict, the Covid-19 pandemic, economic coercion, rising overcapacity, unilateral tariffs, and the weakening of multilateral rules. As the world's largest trading bloc, the EU faces a dual challenge: that of strengthening its own resilience and competitiveness, while also supporting a rules-based global trading system adapted to new geopolitical realities.

Join us for the 2026 edition of Trade Policy Day to discuss how trade policy can help promote stability, resilience and growth in an uncertain world, balance strategic openness with greater autonomy, and keep EU industry competitive while avoiding protectionism.

What topics will be discussed?

This year, discussions will focus on:

Leveraging the EU's network of trade agreements;
Improving the EU's economic security;
Boosting the EU's strategic autonomy, and;
Promoting stability in the multilateral trading system, as well as;
How companies can benefit from EU trade agreements, and;
How stakeholders perceive the benefits of EU trade policy on the ground.

Access details

This is a hybrid meeting. We would be grateful if participants could arrive at least 30 minutes in advance. There will be a welcome desk in the security screening area of the Charlemagne building where IDs will be checked for security clearance and identification badges will be handed out. Please bring with you the confirmation of your V-pass and an ID card or passport.

The web-streaming link and access code will be sent to registered participants.

Book your seat, 4 weeks left to register, registration will end on Wednesday 7 October 2026, 12:00 (CEST)

trade policy
Wednesday 14 October 2026, 09:00 - 17:30 (CEST)
Brussels, Belgium
Live streaming available

Trade topics

Trade policy

Event type

Trade Policy Day

Programme

14 Oct 2026, 08:00 - 09:00 (CEST)
Registration
09:00 - 09:15 (CEST)
Welcome
- By moderator – Chad P. Bown, Peterson Institute for International Economics, host of the Trade Talks podcast
09:15 - 10:00 (CEST)
Keynote
- Ditte Juul Jørgensen, Director-General, DG Trade and Economic Security, European Commission
10:00 - 10:30 (CEST)
Break
10:30 - 12:00 (CEST)
Panel 1: Leading world trade from instability to resilience
- Tomas Baert, Trade Advisor, Cabinet of European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen
- Arancha González Laya, Dean, Paris School of International Affairs, Sciences-Po
- John Hannaford, Personal Representative of the Canadian Prime Minister to the EU
- Guy Janssens, Vice-President (Corporate Affairs), Port of Antwerp-Bruges
- Bernd Lange, Chair, Committee on International Trade, European Parliament
- Moderator – Chad P. Bown, Peterson Institute for International Economics, host of the Trade Talks podcast
12:00 - 13:30 (CEST)
Networking Lunch
13:30 - 15:00 (CEST)
Panel 2: Strengthening economic security: trade policy and beyond
- Milena Angelova, European Economic and Social Committee / Executive Vice-President, Bulgarian Industrial Capital Association
- Sylvie Lemoine, Deputy Director-General, Cefic
- Valère Moutarlier, Deputy Director-General, DG GROW
- Denis Redonnet, Deputy Director-General, DG Trade and Economic Security
- Karin Ronijak, Vice-President, ams-OSRAM
- Moderator – Chad P. Bown, Peterson Institute for International Economics, host of the Trade Talks podcast
15:00 - 15:30 (CEST)
What motivates the EU on trade?
- Maroš Šefčovič, EU Trade and Economic Security Commissioner
15:30 - 15:35 (CEST)
Plenary closing
15:35 - 16:00 (CEST)
Break
16:00 - 17:30 (CEST)
Trade policy in practice
- Breakout session 1 (in the Lord Jenkins room):
  An FTA masterclass: leveraging trade agreements effectively
  - Davor Baković, CEO, Končar Instrument Transformers Inc.
  - Peter Berz, Head of Unit - Single Entry Point for implementation, Outreach and Transparency, SMEs - DG Trade and Economic Security, European Commission
  - Mariella Masselink, Head of Unit - Industrial forum, alliances, clusters - DG Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs, European Commission
  - René Ohlmann, CEO, ADDI-DATA Group
  - Maria Terzi, CEO, Malloc
  - Moderated by Dora Correia, Director for Africa, Caribbean and Pacific, Asia (II), Trade and Sustainable Development and Green Deal, DG Trade and Economic Security
- Breakout session 2 (in the Sicco Mansholt room):
  What's the EU's trade policy ever done for me? Real voices, real impact
  - Thomas Brinkmann, CEO, GAEA Products S.A.
  - Maja Brelih Lotrič, CEO, PSM Measuring Systems & LOTRIČ Metrology
  - Declan Fennell, Head of EU Promotions, Bord Bia
  - Karoliina Rasi, Head of Public Affairs (Europe), Outokumpu
  - Moderated by Sofia Munoz Albarran, Director for Resources, Inter-Institutional Relations, Communications and Civil Society, DG Trade and Economic Security
17:30 (CEST)
End of Programme