Global Scans · Shifting Institutions & Governance · Weekly Summary

• [New] The 13th annual World Ocean Summit comes at a turning point: the High Seas Biodiversity Treaty has been ratified, the WTO Fisheries Subsidies Agreement is going to reshape seafood supply chains, and new science warns we have breached the planetary boundary on ocean acidification. World Ocean Summit & Expo |
• [New] MAGA's model - populist nationalism, personalist leadership, transactional diplomacy - could become more deeply embedded in global governance as other countries adopt similar styles. The Mail & Guardian
• [New] Raises questions on credibility of global climate process: Environmental groups warn that passing a weak, fossil-fuel-free text would signal a breakdown of climate multilateralism. INSIGHTS IAS - Simplifying UPSC IAS Exam Preparation
• [New] AI acts as a force multiplier, fundamentally enhancing decision-making, forecasting, and operational efficiency across global value chains, with the WTO projecting a near 40% boost to global trade by 2040. FinancialContent
• [New] The UN could pivot: defer security to NATO and the African Union, and economics to the WTO, with regional input, while focusing on norm-setting and peace through mediation or arbitration. Asia Times
• [New] The WEF's focus on mis / disinformation as a leading risk reflects a broader agenda to justify increased global governance and tighter control over online speech, potentially at the expense of national sovereignty and individual liberties. GreatReset News
• There is currently no comprehensive global governance framework for military [AI], leaving a troubling regulatory gap which threatens fundamental principles of international humanitarian law (IHL). Minnesota Journal of International Law
• Governments will continue to leverage tariffs as geopolitical tools, prioritize domestic production, and seek to restructure trade agreements, potentially through bilateral deals or plurilateral agreements within the WTO framework. FinancialContent
• New Zealand's voice will always be for multilateralism, for progress and trade together and an open environment. Bastillepost
• Mongolia, a member of the WTO, asserts it will notify the WTO Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade of all draft technical regulations. United States Department of State
• The US tariffs violate World Trade Organization (WTO) rules, and the inability for the WTO to respond raises concerns about the future of the global trading system and increases the risk of further trade disputes between other countries. The University of Sydney
• The WTO acknowledges considerable upside potential if demand for AI-related products maintains its strength, a factor that helped propel the first half's exceptional performance. gCaptain
• Measures aimed at strengthening multilateralism and advancing the reform of global governance will take a prominent place on the BRICS agenda. b
• A truly polycentric digital order - resilient to geopolitical fragmentation - will emerge only if the experiences of small states are brought to the center of global governance debates. Global Policy Journal
• AI regulation in the military domain and global governance that aimed to address universal challenges could provide common ground for China and the US to foster bilateral cooperation. Yahoo News
• New forms of global governance, perhaps leveraging blockchain for transparency or AI for conflict mediation, could emerge. Futurist Speaker on AI Leadership, Future of Work, Futu
• This decade will see the first major international incidents involving autonomous weapons systems and AI-enabled cyber attacks on critical infrastructure, forcing the creation of nascent global governance frameworks for Lethal Autonomous Weapons Systems. Futurist Speaker on AI Leadership, Future of Work, Futu
• The EU will launch a WTO dispute against the US on its universal so-called reciprocal tariffs and tariffs on cars and car parts, by formally lodging a request for consultations. Times of India

Last updated: 13 December 2025