Study Group with Ambassador Katherine Tai: Trade Shaping a New World Order: The View from South Africa

REGISTRATION IS CLOSED

Trade has shaped economic and political dynamics within and between countries throughout history. While we have spent previous weeks examining various aspects of trade’s impact on the United States, through a U.S. lens, this week we take a step outside of this frame by welcoming one of the most thoughtful, learned, strategic, and accomplished former ministers from the “trade ministerial circuit” to the study group.

Ebrahim Patel, South Africa’s former Minister of Trade, Industry & Competition, will explain how trade has shaped the course of South Africa’s history and development; what the role of trade in addressing the climate crisis can and should be; how the U.S. is being perceived in recent years by one of the leaders of the “Global South;” and where the opportunities for a future globalization may lie.

GUEST: Ebrahim Patel, Former Minister of Trade, Industry & Competition, Republic of South Africa

About Ebrahim Patel

Ebrahim Patel is a South African public figure and advocate for inclusive industrial development. Over a 15-year tenure in the South African Cabinet (2009–2024), he served as Minister of Economic Development and later as Minister of Trade, Industry & Competition, spearheading transformative policies to drive economic growth, industrialization, and trade integration.

He chaired the Council of African Trade Ministers during negotiations that established the legal and institutional foundations for the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), spanning 54 countries. His policy guidance on competition (anti-trust) policy fostered new legislation, regulatory frameworks and practices to curb monopolistic practices, stimulate investment, and support economic inclusivity.

Under his stewardship, Africa’s largest industrial development finance institution underwent a $10 billion expansion, significantly increasing funding access for historically disadvantaged entrepreneurs and businesses. He led South Africa’s engagement in global markets, opening new trade opportunities.

Committed to broad-based economic empowerment, he championed policies that expanded employee share ownership, covering over 550,000 workers, including in local and multinational corporations (like Coca Cola and Pepsico) in South Africa. His negotiations with global firms (such as CitiBank, JP Morgan, and Microsoft) unlocked hundreds of millions of dollars for industrial expansion and entrepreneurial growth. As the convenor of five South African Investment Conferences for the South African President, he raised investment pledges exceeding $85 billion from local and international investors, catalyzing industrial development and job creation.

On the global stage, Ebrahim Patel held talks at the World Trade Organization (WTO) to secure intellectual property waivers for COVID-19 vaccines, ensuring greater manufacturing access for developing nations. His work also supported the localization of critical medical and industrial supply chains during the pandemic response. With Katherine Tai, he co-hosted the 20th AGOA Forum of US leaders and African trade ministers, in 2023 in South Africa.

Before joining the Cabinet, he led clothing and textile labor union (SACTWU) and served on the governing body of the International Labour Organisation (ILO), contributing to landmark international labor and development policies. An advocate for social justice, he was deeply involved in the anti-apartheid movement before South Africa’s transition to democracy, leading an uprising of 100 000 students, and was imprisoned by the apartheid government on three occasions. He was appointed to South Africa’s Financial and Fiscal Commission by President Nelson Mandela and served a decade on the governing council of Africa’s highest-ranked university, the University of Cape Town. He edited two books, and co-edited one on African industrialization (with Joseph Stiglitz and Justin Yifu Lin).

Based in Cape Town, he is focused on research into the intersections of global trade, migration, technology, and shifting geopolitical dynamics.

AUDIENCE: These conversations are open to members of the Harvard community. Please RSVP with a valid Harvard email address. 

OFF-THE-RECORD: In keeping with our long tradition at the IOP to ensure honest and candid discussions of politics, all IOP study groups are off-the-record.