The world is currently facing a plethora of crises and challenges to its global security and the international liberal order. Global and local economic partnerships are changing as well. The decision of U.S. President Donald Trump to withdraw the United States from the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) signified a major shift in US trade policy since the partnership was supposed to sustain American influence in the Asia Pacific region.

Bart Édes, the North American Representative of the Asian
Development Bank, will talk about the future of Asia Pacific economic integration and the local and regional impacts of the US' withdrawal from the TPP. He will also delve on the new role that Asian countries are taking on the international stage as the U.S. becomes more isolationist. As Asia continues to rise, what contemporary challenges does the region
face?

Bart W. Édes has served as the Asian Development Bank’s (ADB’s) Representative in North America since October 2, 2017. In this capacity, he mobilizes financing for ADB’s developing member countries; shares development knowledge and experience; establishes and deepens partnerships with public, private and nonprofit organizations in North America; and raises public awareness of ADB in Canada and the United
States.