CUTS International Launches TRaNJA Initiative to Reinvigorate WTO

In a significant global effort to revitalize the World Trade Organization (WTO) and promote equitable global trade, CUTS International has launched a new initiative titled “Trade Not Just Aid: Winners and Losers in the WTO” (TRaNJA). The initiative aims to reposition the WTO as the cornerstone of a fair and rule-based multilateral trading system. The project was introduced at a high-level conference held from 2–4 December 2025 in Tokyo, Japan, titled “Shaping the Future of Global Trade in an Era of Shifting US Engagement, Emerging Powers, and Digital Innovation.”

Steering Committee and Global Representation

The TRaNJA steering committee is co-chaired by,

• Shashi Tharoor, Member of Parliament and former Minister of State for External Affairs, India
• Pascal Lamy, former Director-General of the WTO

The committee comprises 21 prominent global figures, including trade experts, policymakers, and academics from 16 countries, with nearly 30 global trade experts attending the launch summit in Tokyo. The initiative is supported by the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung, a German political foundation known for promoting equity in global trade.

Why TRaNJA Matters

At a time when unilateralism and protectionism are undermining the effectiveness of the WTO, the TRaNJA initiative seeks to,

• Promote evidence-based dialogue on WTO reform
• Highlight the continuing importance of multilateral rules
• Mobilize political will for systemic reform
• Build a “coalition of the willing” among major and middle powers

Offer constructive knowledge outputs from outside the WTO’s formal negotiating processes

Speaking at the launch, Pradeep S. Mehta, Secretary General of CUTS International, emphasized the importance of reviving the WTO’s central role in global trade, pointing out that around 70% of global trade still occurs on Most Favoured Nation (MFN) terms as governed by WTO rules.

The WTO at a Crossroads

Mehta noted that while the WTO has faced criticism and is often viewed as ineffective in the current climate, its contributions cannot be dismissed. He reminded participants that,

• WTO-enabled predictability has helped grow global trade volumes by over 45 times since the 1950s
• The WTO remains a global public good that safeguards fair competition and global economic stability
• However, for meaningful reform, Mehta stressed the need for a positive narrative around the WTO, without which political momentum for change will remain limited.

Focus on Reform Through Knowledge and Cooperation

TRaNJA’s broader goals include,

• Producing evidence-backed recommendations for WTO reform
• Promoting inclusive and equitable trade outcomes
• Addressing issues such as digital trade, climate, and development-linked trade disparities
• Ensuring South–South cooperation and amplifying the voice of emerging economies

Supporting Mehta’s views, Dr. Mia Mikic of New Zealand’s Friends of Multilateralism Group and Dr. Peter Draper of the University of Adelaide underlined the importance of renewed global cooperation in preserving the multilateral trading system.

Static Context: What Is the WTO?

The World Trade Organization (WTO) is the only global international body dealing with the rules of trade between nations. Established in 1995, it provides a rules-based system for negotiating trade agreements, resolving disputes, and ensuring that trade flows as smoothly, predictably, and freely as possible.

Its key principles include,

• Most Favoured Nation (MFN) treatment
• National treatment (no discrimination between domestic and foreign goods)
• Transparency and dispute resolution

However, the WTO has faced significant challenges in recent years due to stalled negotiations, rising trade tensions, and digital economy complexities—hence the need for reforms like those advocated by TRaNJA.

Key Takeaways

• TRaNJA (Trade Not Just Aid) is a global initiative by CUTS International aimed at reviving WTO’s central role in the global trade architecture.
• The project is co-chaired by Shashi Tharoor and Pascal Lamy, with backing from global trade experts and policymakers.
• The initiative calls for a positive, evidence-based narrative to encourage meaningful WTO reform.
• Around 70% of global trade still relies on WTO rules, highlighting its enduring relevance.
• The Tokyo event emphasized cooperation among major and middle powers and the need to bridge knowledge gaps through external policy research.