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'Trade, tariffs and turbulence' panel discussion

Join us for an insightful and provocative expert panel discussion on the effects of trade, tariffs and turbulence on businesses and society.

Date: Monday 29 September 2025 

Time: 10am-12pm

Place: The Municipal Hotel and Spa Liverpool - Municipal Building, Dale St, Liverpool, L2 2DH

Cost: free, light refreshment. Limited places

The event

At a time where uncertainty, geopolitics, economic policy and consequences are on everyone’s minds, during the event we'll unpick some of the evidence and opinion to help navigate a world in which trade, tariffs and turbulence are directly impacting business and society.

Jointly hosted by the Chartered Institute of Export and International Trade (CIEIT) and the University of Liverpool Management School (ULMS), by attending this event you'll enjoy:

  • Expert perspectives and provocations
  • An analysis of the impact of tariffs on trade in numbers
  • An overview of the UK’s trading position and global landscape in 2025.

The event is open to anyone seeking to understand why international trade matters, specially if you are a:

  • Business or public sector leader
  • Policymaker
  • Academic
  • Trade specialist

Expert panel

Panel Chair

Carla Thomas - Deputy Cabinet Member for Policy Reform and Resources, Liverpool City Region Combined Authority

Carla is a qualified lawyer currently with Dutton Gregory Solicitors.

She's also been serving as a Senior Councillor at Sefton Council since 2016, and holds the position of Deputy Cabinet Member for Policy Reform and Resources for Metro Mayor, Steve Rotheram.

She has also been the Chairperson of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee for Adult Social Care and Health at Sefton Council. 

Panellists

Marco Forgione MCIEx - Director General, CIEIT

In post since January 2020, Marco has become a leading authority and commentator on global trade, empowering businesses to grow internationally through educational programmes and digital trade solutions.

Marco is also a visiting professor at Aston University and regularly comments on trade and supply chain matters in international media outlets, including BBC News, Euronews, Bloomberg and Politico.

Under his leadership, the CIEIT has grown from a team of 12 to over 170 trade and customs experts, and the organisation was awarded a Royal Charter in 2024.

Sarah Edwards - Member of Parliament (MP) for Tamworth and the Villages

Sarah was elected as the MP for Tamworth in October 2023 in a by-election, she secured the second highest swing at 23.9% since the second world war and is the first woman to hold the position in the seat’s 500 year history.

She was the DEFRA Parliamentary Private Secretary to Shadow Minister Steve Reed until the General Election was called in June 2024. Sarah now sits on the Business and Trade Select Committee, and is Chair of the APPG for Pensions and Growth and the APPG for SME Housebuilders. 

Prior to her election she worked in international development, trade unions, and cultural arts and heritage sectors. She has held trustee positions and been an NHS Governor.

Professor Giuseppe de Feo - Professor of Economics, ULMS

Giuseppe is an applied microeconomist with research interest in political economy, public economics, organised crime and applied microeconomic theory. He is the Head of the Management School's Economics Subject Group and coordinator of the Applied Microeconomics area.

Full panel TBC soon.