Professor Don De Amicis Appointed to World Bank Sanctions Board
WASHINGTON, D.C., July 3, 2025 —We are proud to share that Professor Don S. De Amicis has been appointed to serve on the World Bank Sanctions Board on July 3.
The Sanctions Board plays a critical role in upholding integrity and accountability in World Bank-financed projects worldwide. Professor De Amicis brings extensive expertise in international law, governance, and dispute resolution to this appointment.
The Institute and ITPF Host 2025 Conference on Tariffs and Destination-Based Levies with Deputy Secretary Michael Faulkender
WASHINGTON, D.C., June 27, 2025 —Georgetown's Institute of International Economic Law and the International Tax Policy Forum hosted the 2025 ITPF / Georgetown Law Conference – Tariffs & Other Destination-Based Levies. We were pleased to welcome a distinguished set of speakers, including a keynote address by the U.S. Deputy Treasury Secretary Michael Faulkender.
The conference examined the legal and economic implications of tariffs, evaluated potential adjustments and alternatives to recent actions, and provided strategic guidance on today’s complex global trade environment.
The Institute Hosts Forum on the Future of U.S.-U.K. Trade Featuring Congressman Adrian Smith and Deputy Ambassador James Roscoe
WASHINGTON, D.C., May 20, 2025 —The Institute of International Economic Law, in partnership with the University of Sussex’s UK Trade Policy Observatory (UKTPO), hosted a half-day forum on The Future of U.S.-U.K. Trade. We were honored to welcome our distinguished keynote speakers, including Representative Adrian Smith, Chairman of the House Ways and Means Trade Subcommittee, and James Roscoe, Deputy Head of Mission at the British Embassy Washington.
The program brought together voices from government, industry, and academia for a timely and important conversation on shared U.S.-U.K. economic and security interests in a rapidly shifting global trade landscape.
The Sovereign Debt Forum Advances Public Debt Transparency at the International Monetary Fund
WASHINGTON, D.C., May 14, 2025 — The Sovereign Debt Forum partnered with the IMF Legal Department for a conference and workshop, Public Debt Transparency: Aligning the Law with Good Practices. The event drew finance officials and parliamentarians, as well as representatives of supreme audit institutions, civil society organizations, financial market participants, and academics from 72 countries around the world and across the national income spectrum. Professor Anna Gelpern moderated a panel that elicited different perspectives on an actionable reform program. Professor Sean Hagan ('86) highlighted the challenges that lack of debt transparency poses for debt crisis response.
SDF previewed the #PublicDebtIsPublic Initiative— the first centralized public debt documentation and data commons — for the debt management workshop participants, and briefed national authorities and other stakeholders on the pilot phase of the initiative. Professor Gelpern, Katherine Shen, and Whitney Carr worked with IMF staff to organize the conference; SDF participants included Sarah Ludwick ('22), Allison Bailey ('24), our partners from the Queen Mary University of London and Georgetown's Massive Data Institute, and SDF affiliated scholars from the United States and Europe.
IIEL Faculty Co-Director, Jennifer Hillman, Served as Counsel for Members of Congress on Amicus Brief
The Institute of International Economic Law at the Georgetown University Law Center is proud to share an amicus brief filed on May 5 on behalf of 148 members of Congress at the U.S. Court of International Trade. IIEL’s co-director, Prof. Jennifer Hillman, served as counsel to the Members of Congress in the filing of the brief.
Global Trade Academy: Immersive Learning on Law, Policy, and Emerging Trends
WASHINGTON, D.C., April 28 - May 2, 2025, — The Institute hosted nearly 50 participants from more than 10 countries for an immersive program on the law and policy of international trade. Combining high-level discussions, interactive workshops, and collaborative sessions, the program addressed emerging trends, regulatory challenges, and innovative strategies in the global trading system—fostering cross-border connections, diverse perspectives, and actionable insights for navigating the evolving trade landscape.
Daniel Schuker Named Executive Director of the Institute of International Economic Law
WASHINGTON, D.C., March 31, 2025, — The Institute of International Economic Law is pleased to welcome Daniel Schuker as the incoming Executive Director. He brings a wealth of experience to the role with his most recent postings as the Deputy Policy Director for Vice President Harris’s presidential campaign and Senior Advisor to the Deputy National Security Advisor for International Economics at the White House.
46th Annual International Trade Update: Expert Insights on Global Trade Challenges
WASHINGTON, D.C., March 13-14, 2025, — The 46th annual International Trade Update brought hundreds of leading trade lawyers and officials to Georgetown Law’s campus for in-depth dialogue on pressing trade challenges, including customs, tariffs, and evolving legal frameworks. Featured speakers—including International Trade Commission Chair Amy Karpel, former Deputy U.S. Trade Representative and World Trade Organization Ambassador Maria Pagán, and former Assistant Secretary of Commerce Arun Venkataraman—delivered expert analysis and forward-looking perspectives on the future of international trade.
DC Fintech Week 2024: Four Days of Innovation, Insights, and Industry Collaboration
WASHINGTON, D.C., October 21-24, 2024,— The Institute convened more than 3,000 participants from across the fintech ecosystem, including policymakers, industry leaders, entrepreneurs, investors, and academics, for four days of dynamic discussions, groundbreaking insights, and high-impact networking. The program showcased cutting-edge technologies, explored emerging regulatory and market shifts, and sparked collaborations shaping the future of financial innovation.
IIEL Hosts the USDA Trade Academy
WASHINGTON, D.C., August 26-30, 2024 — The USDA Trade Academy was a weeklong bespoke program designed by Professor Jesse Kreier for the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service. Through expert-led sessions and thoughtful discussions, attendees gained actionable insights and tools to expand U.S. agricultural exports, navigate complex trade environments, and strengthen global trade engagement.
MDIs after Silicon Valley Bank
June 12, 2023
The collapse of Silicon Valley Bank has created new stresses for banks of all sizes, including community and minority banks, catalyzing questions as to optimal policy responses in an age of economic volatility and uncertainty. In an all-star forum with leaders from banking, technology and government, we will be exploring the factors driving the market unease for financial institutions, and the impact on minority depositary institutions, as well as broader regulatory and market responses under consideration.
IIEL co-hosted this forum alongside the National Bankers Association in commemoration of Juneteenth, serving as a continuation of our work on banks in a digital economy, and will help springboard discussions later in the year for DC Fintech Week and other programming sponsored by Georgetown Law.
IIEL Professor Anna Gelpern on the IMF and World Bank Predicting Tolerable Crises
October 18, 2022
Georgetown Law Professor and Founding Director of the Sovereign Debt Forum Anna Gelpern provided comments to The American Prospect as the IMF and World Bank predict a tolerable emerging-markets debt crisis.
IIEL Faculty Director Chris Brummer Provides Testimony at Congressional Hearing on the Future of Digital Assets Regulation
June 23, 2022
IIEL Faculty Director provides testimony at the Congressional Hearing on the Future of Digital Assets Regulation before the Agriculture Committee, U.S. House of Representatives Subcommittee on Commodity Exchanges, Energy, and Credit
IIEL Professor Anna Gelpern Discusses Ukraine and Odious Debt on NPR
March 8, 2022
Georgetown Law Professor and Founding Director of the Sovereign Debt Forum Anna Gelpern joined Planet Money's Wailin Wong on NPR to discuss Ukraine, odious debt, and why it's been a struggle for courts to recognize it as law.
IIEL Faculty Director Chris Brummer Joined WTO & IMF Heads in Celebration of Black History Month
March 4, 2022
In celebration of Black History Month, IIEL Faculty Director Chris Brummer joined WTO Director General Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva reflect on the evolving role of Africa in the international community, and discuss their organizations' efforts to mobilize an inclusive international economic agenda.
IIEL Faculty Director Chris Brummer Delivers FinCEN Keynote
February 24, 2022
IIEL's Chris Brummer delivered the 2022 Black History Month speech for FinCEN. Brummer drew parallels with the very work of FinCEN and challenged the agency--and the government--to think about ways to make technology and the compliance process dual-purposed in ways that facilitate inclusion.
IIEL Fintech Scholar Releases OUP Book on Future of Open Banking
November 15, 2021
IIEL Visiting Scholar on Financial Technology & Adjunct Professor Linda Jeng releases new Oxford University Press book on Open Banking - a silent revolution transforming the banking industry.
IIEL Executive Director on Implications of US-EU Tariff Agreement
November 3, 2021
The Hill quotes IIEL Executive Director Marie Kasperek on the U.S.' strategic move to counter Chinese overproduction by reducing tariffs on EU steel and aluminum imports.
IIEL Alumna Presents Paper on Affordable Finance at Yale Conference
November 1, 2021
Fatin El-Kabashi Abdullah Ibrahim, a former IIEL Fellow, was selected to present her paper on "Rethinking Dodd-Frank’s Risk Retention Rule" at the 4th annual Law & Macroeconomics conference.
IIEL's Jennifer Hillman on how US Leadership is Critical to Future of Trade
October 27, 2021
IIEL Senior Fellow Jennifer Hillman and Inu Manak discuss how the US must step in to save the WTO and learn to lead again in this opinion piece for the Hill.
IIEL Senior Fellow Explains how De-Fi can Transform Financial Systems
October 26, 2021
IIEL Senior Fellow Linda Jeng explains decentralized finance in conjunction with her upcoming Oxford University Press book publication on the same topic.
IIEL Executive Director Kasperek on Fair, Equitable & Sustainable Trade
October 25, 2021
In this podcast, moderator and IIEL Executive Director, Marie Kasperek, is joined by Cecilia Malmström, Former European Commissioner for Trade and Marion Jansen, Director of the Trade and Agriculture Directorate, OECD. Listen as they discuss how the global trading system can be made more equitable for all citizens.
IIEL Professor Hillman Wins WIIT 2021 Lifetime Achievement Award
October 12, 2021
The Association of Women in International Trade awarded its distinguished 2021 Lifetime Achievement Award to IIEL Professor Jennifer Hillman in recognition of her remarkable trade career and distinguished public service.
BBC News Cites IIEL Professor Anna Gelpern on Chinese Lending
September 29, 2021
Countries can be difficult borrowers, IIEL Professor Anna Gelpern explains, and it's not practical to expect them to hand over a physical asset like a port if they're unable to pay their debts.
IIEL Faculty Director Unpacks Racial Disparities in Finreg at UPenn
September 28, 2021
Chris Brummer delivers a lecture on "New Evidence on Racial Disparities in Financial Regulatory Leadership" at a virtual event with the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School, co-sponsored by the Wharton Initiative on Financial Policy and Regulation.
IIEL Professor Alvaro Santos Discusses Latin America and Trade Reforms
September 10, 2021
What will increasing geopolitical tensions between the US and China mean for trade in Latin America? This AIG Global Trade Series 2021 podcast episode features leading expert insights on how Latin American countries must balance trade relations with the major powers.
IIEL Professor at US Treasury Makes Appeal for Global Tax Overhaul
July 22, 2021
Itai Grinberg, now a Treasury Department official representing the United States in the negotiations, offered a new rationale for the agreement, which would entail the largest overhaul of the international tax system in decades.
IIEL Scholar Linda Jeng Discusses Deregulated Finance in New Report
June 14, 2021
This report discusses some of the new types of risks introduced by DeFi that are inherent to blockchain systems along with traditional types of financial risks in DeFi that manifest in new ways.
Bank for International Settlements Teams Up with IIEL for Fintech Week
May 26, 2021
After a phenomenal turnout and a truly global reach of last year's virtual Fintech Week, the 5th annual Fintech Week will again be primarily held virtually- enabling our event to connect with tens of thousands of fintech leaders beyond the beltway on a global scale.
IIEL Senior Fellow Jennifer Hillman on the Future of WTO and Trade
April 13, 2021
All eyes are on the World Trade Organization’s new leadership to jump-start trade multilateralism. But can global trade rules be updated? And if so, which rules should be fixed first? Experts explain in the 2nd podcast of the 2021 AIG Global Trade Series.
IIEL Professor Testifies to House Financial Services Committee on China
May 18, 2021
IIEL Professor Anna Gelpern testifies to a House Financial Services subcommittee on what China's lending practices mean for international debt architecture, especially in the context of the pandemic.
IIEL Professor Gelpern Advises on Post-Pandemic Rebuilding in G30 Report
May 5, 2021
The report by the Group of Thirty, including IIEL Professor Anna Gelpern, makes clear that collective aversion to crisis planning is irresponsible when much of the world is one unforeseen shock away from a lost decade, underscoring that now is the time to rebuild and reform the architecture to improve its long-term resilience.
IIEL Senior Fellow Co-Authors Report on China's Belt & Road Initiative
March 24, 2021
The 190-page report, titled China’s Belt and Road: Implications for the United States, was written by IIEL Senior Fellow Jennifer Hillman along with David Sacks at the Council on Foreign Relations.
IIEL Announces 4th Annual Greenwald Writing Competition Winners
March 9, 2021
Georgetown Law students take first, second and third place for international trade law note submissions at the 2021 John D. Greenwald Writing Competition.
EU Parliament Briefing on Carbon Tax and Trade by IIEL Affiliates
April 14, 2020
This briefing provides a legal assessment – under WTO and EU law - of three policy options for an EU carbon border adjustment mechanism.
IIEL Professor on Tackling Debt Vulnerabilities at IMF Webinar
December 14, 2020
IIEL Professor Anna Gelpern joins an expert panel on debt transparency, how and when to restructure government debt, the G20 common framework for debt relief, and more.
IIEL Executive Director on Impact of US Elections on International Trade
November 26, 2020
IIEL's Director Marie Kasperek offers expert insights on how the 2020 US presidential election outcomes will impact EU-US-Asia trade relations at the EconPol Europe Annual Conference.
IIEL Professor Katrin Kuhlmann on African Trade with AfCFTA Secretary General
October 7, 2020
Can the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) live up to expectations, integrating markets and overcoming fragmentation, to deliver inclusive and sustainable growth across the continent?
Listen to expert insights from IIEL's Katrin Kuhlmann, Visiting Professor of Law, Georgetown Law; President and Founder, New Markets Lab and Wamkele Mene, Secretary General of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat in this podcast as part of AIG's Global Trade Series.
IIEL Professor Anna Gelpern discusses debt solutions on World Bank Live
October 13, 2020
The pandemic has only aggravated debt burdens, raising concerns about debt sustainability in many lower-income countries and creating the need for a coordinated effort to strengthen debt restructuring processes.
IIEL Faculty Director research published by Brookings Institution's Economics Studies program
Sep 2, 2020
Perhaps one of the biggest open secrets in Washington, D.C. is the virtual absence of African American financial regulators in the United States government.
IIEL Director Marie Kasperek on the state of EU-US trade relations
August 17, 2020
How has the pandemic affected the world's largest trading partners? This podcast is part of the AIG Global Trade Series 2020.
IIEL Fellow Jennifer Hillman Testifies before U.S. Senate on WTO Reforms
July 29, 2020
Why should the WTO reform its Appellate body, instead of eliminating it completely? A "rules-based" system of trade, and the potential for China to overtake the U.S.' leadership position.
Research Shows Black Regulators Scarcely Chosen to Oversee Wall Street
July 28, 2020
IIEL Faculty Director, Chris Brummer joins Yahoo Finance’s Brian Cheung and Zack Guzman to discuss his new research that reveals the profound racial disparity within the top ranks of financial agencies.
UN warns against lopsided trade rules, climate change, others
July 22, 2020
Realignment of trade rules with SDG's to combat rising inequalities, climate change, and frustration with trade's role in development co-authored by IIEL's Katrin Kuhlmann.
IIEL Faculty Director Chris Brummer Reveals Near Total Exclusion of African Americans at U.S. Regulatory Agencies
July 21, 2020
Senior roles supervising Wall Street and other parts of the financial sector have gone overwhelmingly to white officials over the years—and today, only one of 21 politically appointed financial regulators at eight agencies is Black, according to new research.
Trade Policy Can Ensure Inclusive Prosperity In Wake of COVID-19
July 20, 2020
New publication featuring IIEL's Katrin Kuhlmann - Trade Policy for Resilient, Inclusive, and Sustainable Development.
Drugs and Vaccines Are Coming—But to Whom?
May 19, 2020
IIEL Senior Fellow Jennifer Hillman on how to ensure patents don’t stand in the way of global health.
Georgetown Law Calls Attention to Looming Tax War
Feb 19, 2020
If the U.S.-European Union tax war erupts, it could hit the global economy as hard as the U.S.-China trade war that dominated headlines for the past year.
Janet Yellen and Randal Quarles at IIEL Law and Macro Conference
Since the 2008 financial crisis, a boom in legal scholarship has explored how new policy approaches could better foster economic growth and financial stability. Leading legal, financial and economic policy experts will discuss emerging themes and challenges in what could be the foundations of a new discipline focused on law and macroeconomics that brings together these new threads of scholarship..
Trump Tariffs Threaten National Security
June 1, 2018
IIEL Senior Fellow Jennifer Hillman preempts the effects of "blurring the line between economic and national security".