Skip to content

Circle

Impact of Global Trade Relations on International Development

Impact of Global Trade Relations on International Development

November 4, 2025

Berlin

Recent changes in U.S. tariffs policy have triggered new uncertainties and shifts in global trade relations. These changes directly impact the future and strategic course of international development cooperation. Pinelopi K. Goldberg, former Chief Economist of the World Bank and currently teaching at Yale University, has spent her research and professional career exploring the intersections between trade and international development.

The final report of our Commission, “A Changing World – Germany and the Global South,” highlights that development policy can be a valuable tool in times of geopolitical conflict. The recommendations suggest that Germany, as one of the world’s largest export and trading nations, uses its development policy as a strategic instrument in times of geopolitical tension to create a sustainable future.

Based on Goldberg’s latest analyses on the impact of global trade on international development, we further discussed the recommendations of the Commission together with partners from politics, academia, business and civil society. Together, we examined how international development policy must be realigned to address these current changes.

The objective is not just growth. It's better living standards. And for that, it really matters how growth is distributed and who benefits from it.
Pinelopi K. Goldberg
William Nordhaus Professor of Economics and Global Affairs, Yale University

Contact Persons

Gregor Darmer, g.darmer@globalperspectives.org

Supported by

One

Wissenschaftszentrum Berlin für Sozialforschung (WZB)

WZB Berlin Social Science Center

Circle

We believe in proximity building trust. Our most personal format therefore offers the opportunity to deepen the knowledge of our high-ranking guests in a small circle, together with an exchange of experiences, in dialogue.

Program Archive

Circle
Rethinking Development Policy
Strategies for a Changing World

We discussed with State Secretary Niels Annen how development policy can be integrated into networked foreign, security, and economic policies.

Salon
Driving Growth: Local Value Chains & Global Trade
Berlin Global Dialogue

As traditional trade relations shift, strengthening local value chains, enhancing trade agreements, and mobilizing private capital are key to building more resilient and mutually beneficial economies.

Digital Salon
Global Perspectives on: Green Finance
What's missing in Green Finance?

Our speaker James Irungu Mwangi shared his perspective on how to accelerate climate action and investment across Africa. Together, we discussed what it will take to mobilize the green finance needed.

Circle
Connecting Global Talent
Building Ecosystems for Labor Migration

Germany is a country of immigration. Building on our Commission's recommendations for action, we discussed ways to better manage and communicate labor migration.

Salon
Advancing Space Partnerships Between Africa and Europe

Europe and Africa have the chance to advance technology and shape the future of the global space economy together through cooperation.

Publications
The Africa Roundtable N°8
Action Recommendations

Amid shifting global dynamics, investing in Africa’s strengths in renewable energy and climate action is more urgent than ever. The action recommendations of the eighth conference.

Salon
The Future of Global Cooperation: Redefining Germany’s Role
Hamburg Sustainability Conference 2025

How can Germany build strong, sustainable relationships with countries in the Global South that benefit both sides? At HSC 2025, we continued the dialogue on the Commission's recommendations.

Conference
The Africa Roundtable N°8
Green Finance in a New Geopolitical Reality

At the eighth edition of The Africa Roundtable, we discussed how to rethink and strengthen sustainable finance in Africa through strategic partnerships with Europe.

Publications
Recommendations for the Realignment of Germany's Relations with the Countries of the Global South
Final Report of the Commission "A Changing World - Germany and the Global South"

The Commission “A Changing World – Germany and the Global South” presents its recommendations as a basis for addressing key strategic decisions facing Germany today.

Newsletter Sign-up

Sign up to the Global Perspectives Initiative's newsletter and stay up to date on our program. You can unsubscribe at any time.

Global Perspectives Initiative
Dorotheenstraße 3
10117 Berlin

office@globalperspectives.org
+49 (0) 30 55 57 80 530

Global Perspectives Initiative is a non-profit and independent dialogue platform based in Berlin, Germany. Global Perspectives works towards enhanced engagement and responsibility for sustainable development by German and European decision-makers and aims to strengthen African perspectives in policy making. To this end, Global Perspectives regularly brings together decision-makers from business, academia, politics, media, and civil society to discuss new approaches, provide new impulses and raise awareness on the common opportunities and challenges the two neighboring continents are facing.

©2025 Global Perspectives Initiative gemeinnützige UG (haftungsbeschränkt)