EICN MENA Annual Conference: Trade, technology & tariffs – a new world of protectionism

We are delighted to invite you to join the EICN MENA Annual Conference in Dubai on 19 November, sponsored by The University of Manchester Middle East Centre.

Our keynote speaker will be HE Dr Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, Minister of State for Foreign Trade, Minister in Charge of Talent Attraction and Retention, and Chairman of the Emirates Drug Establishment.

As governments of leading economies expand the use of trade defence instruments and other protectionist measures, other countries are following suit—ultimately at the expense of the efficiency of global trade. This chain reaction mirrors global events during Donald Trump’s first term as US president (2017‑21), driven primarily by concerns that goods blocked by one country will become surplus products re‑directed to alternative markets.

Many emerging markets are highly sensitive to a potential influx of Chinese goods, given their ambition to develop homegrown manufacturing sectors. Brazil and Indonesia have also imposed measures to protect their industries against Chinese exporters.

Current trade policy developments point to an increasingly vicious cycle. And there are significant risks that retaliatory actions could escalate. Ultimately, the new supply chains that develop as a result of protectionist industrial policy are likely to be less efficient, resulting in more expensive global production and thus inflationary pressure.

Whether Mr Trump wins the US presidential election on 5 November or not, the America-first ethos that he preached, once a fringe preference, is now a force in the global political mainstream. Most of his tariffs are still on the books. And the WTO remains neutered. Proponents of protectionist industrial policy can cause great damage with the stroke of a pen, and that damage is not easily reversed.

Join us, the minister, our special guest speaker Alex Holmes, the Economist Intelligence Unit’s Asia Director, and influential business leaders to explore the enduring primary and secondary consequences of global trade tariffs and the wider weaponisation of finance and technology.

Speakers

HE Dr Thani Bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi

UAE Minister of State for Foreign Trade

Ken McPhail

Head of Alliance Manchester Business School, The University of Manchester

Sylvain Kluba

Chief Financial Officer & Managing Director – India, Middle East & Africa (IMEA) of CEVA logistics

Torben Eskelund

Chief Operating Officer at Silal

Ravinder Sharma

Chief Supply Chain Officer at Burjeel Holdings

Carlos García Pinilla

Partner, Middle East Customs & International Trade at PwC Middle East

Alex Holmes

Regional Director of Economist Intelligence Unit

Robert Willock

Global Editorial Director of The Economist Intelligence Corporate Network

Agenda

08:30 – 09:15 – Arrival, registration, breakfast and networking

09:15 – 09:20 – Welcome Note

09:20 – 09:30 – Foreword from The University of Manchester

09:30 – 10:10 – Regional Strategic Forecast

10:10 – 10:50 – Panel Discussion: Trade, technology & tariffs

10:50 – 11:10 – Coffee Break & Networking

11:10 – 11:55 – Fireside Discussion

11:55 – 12:05 – Thanks, close, lunch and networking

Event details

Venue

Sofitel Downtown

Sheikh Zayed Rd – Downtown Dubai – Dubai – United Arab Emirates

Meeting room details will be shared upon successfull registration

Contact

If you have any questions about this event, or joining our Singapore network please send an email to eicn_me@economist.com.

Request to attend

Our events are typically closed-door and reserved for members only. As such, please note that guest spaces are extremely limited and subject to availability and suitability. To request to attend this event, please fill out the form below and a member of our staff will be in contact with you shortly.