The World Transformed organized its annual festival on radical politics and strategy from 9 to 12 October 2025 in Manchester, UK.
Shobhit S, Lead – Research and Policy Engagement, IT for Change, participated virtually in the session, 'Trade as a weapon of Empire: Big Tech, Tariffs and Neoliberal Trade Deals' on 10 October. Hosted by Global Justice Now, the session explored the ways in which digital trade rules and tariff regimes consolidate Big Tech monopolies and sustain colonial hierarchies in the global digital economy. Shobhit highlighted how contemporary digital trade agendas are entrenching extractive data value chains and undermining pathways to digital sovereignty and economic justice, particularly in the Global South.
The discussion was moderated by Seema Syeda of Global Justice Now and included Cecilia Rikap, Head of Research at the Institute for Innovation and Public Purpose, University College London, and Cleodie Rickard, Global Justice Now.