Trade
International trade and trade policy have a significant impact on the way we live, from the costs of the goods and services we buy, to the performance of the various economic sectors that we either work in or rely on. While trade has the potential to advance sustainable, low-carbon development, it can also be a hindrance to that objective, depending on how trade policy is designed and implemented. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Paris Agreement climate commitments present fundamental challenges to trade policy; so too does the fraying of multilateralism.
IISD has been working on international trade for over two decades, analyzing the issue from multiple perspectives: scientific, economic, fiscal, legal, social, and environmental.
At the intergovernmental level, IISD has a long history of working on reforms to the World Trade Organization’s rules and members’ ability to engage in those processes. IISD has also built an extensive body of work on regional and plurilateral trade agreements, as well as the interlinkages between multilateral environmental agreements and the trading system.
At the sectoral level, we have explored options for new industrial policies to mitigate and adapt to climate change and accelerate the energy transition, as well as policies to improve food security, and the reform of harmful fisheries subsidies. Our work also unpacks the relationship between voluntary sustainability standards and trade, as well as the role of trade in contributing to the circular economy.
IISD's work consists of robust research and policy analysis, along with regular engagement with the varied stakeholder communities involved in and affected by trade and trade policy. A core part of this engagement involves our work to promote transparency and support informed trade conversations.
We feature in-depth commentary and analysis in Investment Treaty News, the Global Subsidies Initiative, the SDG Knowledge Hub, and the Trade and Sustainability Review. We hold webinars on issues at the heart of the trade and sustainability nexus, as part of our partnership with the University of Geneva's Faculty of Law.
Our work on trade issues is made possible through the generous support of our funders. These include:
- The Pew Charitable Trusts
- The Laudes Foundation
- The European Climate Foundation
- Climateworks
- UK aid from the UK government, including its Trade and Investment Advocacy Fund (TAF2+)
- German Corporation for International Cooperation (GIZ)
- Global Affairs Canada
- Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida)
- New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (NZ MFAT)
Areas of Focus
Agricultural Trade Policy
IISD’s work on trade in food and farm goods seeks to shape trade policy to better support sustainable development outcomes, including food security and sustainable agriculture.
Fisheries Subsidies
IISD is focused on supporting the implementation of the 2022 Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies and ongoing negotiations at the World Trade Organization negotiations towards additional rules to curb harmful fisheries subsidies.
Climate Change, the Natural Environment, and the Green Transition
IISD pioneers change at the nexus of trade, climate change and the environment, addressing pressing issues like plastic pollution, green market growth, industrial decarbonization and resilience. Our research informs better policies for a sustainable future.
Investment Facilitation
IISD provides objective and impartial support to developing country and least developed country negotiators to improve their engagement in the WTO negotiations on Investment Facilitation for Development
E-commerce
IISD works to strengthen the technical knowledge and capacity of developing country and least developed country negotiators to improve their engagement in the WTO negotiations on E-commerce.
Flagship Initiatives
Trade and Sustainability Hub
Bringing together communities and stakeholders from around the world to discuss how trade policy can contribute to sustainable development.
Trade and Sustainability Review
A regular publication with a focus on the most active policy issues being discussed at the intersection of trade and sustainable development.
Global Subsidies Initiative
A program designed to put the spotlight on subsidies and their impact on environmental quality, economic development, and governance.
Trade Events
Integrating Voluntary Sustainability Standards in Trade Agreements: Charting a path for sustainable trade
This webinar will explore recent trends, challenges, and opportunities related to the integration of voluntary standards in trade policy, with a focus on free trade agreements (FTAs).
WTO agriculture negotiations on domestic support: making new rules work for LDCs and other vulnerable economies
This webinar will bring research insights for WTO delegates, advancing domestic support negotiations pre-MC14 and aiding vulnerable economies.
Trade and Sustainability Hub 2024
We ran our third Trade + Sustainability Hub alongside the Thirteenth WTO Ministerial Conference (MC13). It brought together thought leaders from both within and outside governments for a series of conversations on the challenges of building cooperative trade policy that delivers for sustainable development.
Experts
Nathalie Bernasconi-Osterwalder
Vice-President, Global Strategies and Managing Director, Europe
Alice Tipping
Director, Trade and Sustainable Development
Ieva Baršauskaitė
Lead I, Trade and Green Transition
Steffany Bermúdez
Policy Advisor I
Facundo Calvo
Policy Analyst, Trade and Agriculture
Aaron Cosbey
Senior Associate
Tristan Irschlinger
Senior Policy Advisor I, Fisheries Subsidies
Rashmi Jose
Senior Policy Advisor
Cristina Larrea
Lead II, Sustainability Standards
Rashid S. Kaukab
Senior Specialist, Trade and Sustainable Development
Florencia Sarmiento
Policy Advisor
Maria Barral
Communications Officer
Latest
Trade-related topics
Investment Law & Policy
How can we ensure developing economies attract international investment that promotes sustainable development?
Subsidies
Fossil fuel subsidies make little sense in a world shifting to low-carbon sources of energy to tackle climate change.
Standards and Value Chains
If designed and used appropriately, sustainability standards can help advance more sustainable production, consumption, and trade.
Governance and Multilateral Agreements
The frameworks that govern economies and our ecosystems touch every aspect of our lives—and have implications for sustainable, inclusive development.
Food and Agriculture
Agriculture is on the front lines of nearly all urgent global challenges, from hunger to climate change to rising inequality.
Circular Economy
In a circular economy, products are designed, produced, and used to reduce waste and regenerate natural systems.