Trade policies are central to foster economic development, ensure trade resilience in times of crisis and foster recovery. While multilateral negotiations at the WTO have slowed down, other trade negotiations fora have emerged at bilateral and regional levels that still offer untapped opportunities for developing countries. However, policy-makers in developing countries often lack the expertise to adequately defend their interests in these fora and translate the results of the negotiations into their national policies. This applies for recent trade policy issues, for example related to e-commerce, environment, MSMEs, gender, sustainability.

Equip trade-policy makers of the beneficiary countries of the program with the necessary knowledge, negotiating skills, analytical methods and networking capabilities to devise, negotiate and implement an effective and conducive trade-policy to their country’s economy (including economic recovery).

The program provides support to formulate evidence-based trade policies in key areas covered in trade agreements, such as trade in industrial goods, agriculture, services, rules of origin, SPS/TBT, trade remedies, trade facilitation, intellectual property, public procurement or dispute settlement.

Tools are developed to respond to sustainability and inclusiveness concerns in the formulation of trade policies, such as environment impact assessment of trade agreements or analysis of specific trade policies on gender.

The support offered is adjusted to the needs identified in the beneficiary country after a country assessment.

Outcome 1: Trade negotiations capacities of government institutions improved with increased consideration on sustainability and inclusiveness issues -

Outcome 2: Implementation of trade agreements and unilateral trade policy facilitated taking into account sustainability and inclusiveness concerns-

Outcome 3: Cooperation among trade policy stakeholders at the national and regional level improved.

Expected results:  

Tailor-made technical assistance delivered (trainings developed and conducted on negotiating techniques or specific trade policy issues, consultancy services provided to prepare negotiating position or to assess alignment of domestic law with new commitments from trade agreements,etc)

Applied research aligned with national trade priorities financed and expert support facilitated (working paper or policy brief informing negotiations, on the effective implementation of trade agreements or on the collaboration between trade policy stakeholders)

Tailor-made outreach support provided (technical support provided to organize conferences or seminars to improve communication and understanding of the public and trade policy stakeholders on trade policy issues of relevance for the country)

Tailor-made access to the high quality trade database monitored by the Global Trade Alert (GTA) created and access to the trade policy expertise of the GTA team facilitated.

Phase 1 01.12.2020 - 30.06.2026   (Active)