On December 2nd and 3rd, the fourth NEXT STEP Global Conference, organized by the National University of Singapore (NUS) and the Peterson Institute for International Economics (PIIE) took place in Singapore under the theme "A Positive Agenda to Maintain the Global Economy Amid US-China Rivalry."

Prof. Tu Xinquan, the only Chinese scholar from mainland China was invited to the conference, shared his expertise on the structuring, negotiating, and implementing trade agreements. He also engaged in discussions on the future of the global trading system joined by former EU Trade Commissioner Cecilia Malmström and former World Bank Vice President Mrs. Mari Elka Pangtestu.

The conference was co-chaired by Mr. Quah Seng Hing, Dean of the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy at NUS, and Mr. Adam Posen, President of PIIE. WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala attended the conference and delivered a keynote speech. More than 50 representatives from international organizations, governments, academia, and businesses from Singapore, the United States, Japan, South Korea, and other regions participated in the event. The conference explored policies and mechanisms for the countries stuck in the middle of great power competition, how to best overcome international institutional gridlock, and maintain an open international economy for those countries which wish to support one. PIIE scholars also analyzed the potential global impact of the incoming U.S. administration's economic policies.