Policy Analysis
To put it simply, this is a space for our policy experts to wonk out—after all, some issues can only be tackled with technical expertise on niche subjects. IISD's team understands the importance of effective commentary and the ways in which it can lead to transformative policy change in the real world.
Highlights

Ending the WTO Dispute Settlement Crisis: Where to from here?
Simon Lester outlines how and why many disputes between WTO members are in a state of limbo and discusses what the U.S. needs to do to move forward.

The Role of Agricultural Trade in Reducing Inequality
The benefits of international trade are often distributed unequally. Ekaterina Krivonos discusses how policy can make agricultural trade more inclusive.

Principles and Best Practice in Border Carbon Adjustment: A modest proposal
As more countries commit to ambitious climate targets, IISD’s Aaron Cosbey proposes a list of best practices for developing border carbon adjustments.
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Showing 11-20 of 375 results
International Trade and Artificial Intelligence: Is trade policy ready for Chat GPT?
Pascal Krummenacher discusses the challenges that artificial intelligence poses to trade policy and looks to the World Trade Organization in its ability to respond.
WTO’s Ossa: Trade is both a cause of and solution to climate change
Jennifer Freedman interviews Ralph Ossa, the WTO’s new chief economist, to discuss the effects of trade on climate change, and how trade can provide solutions to environmental issues.
PPMs Are Back: The rise of new sustainability-oriented trade policies based on process and production methods
Andreas Oeschger and Elisabeth Bürgi Bonanomi review the debate behind process and production methods (PPMs) and contextualize them based on examples of recently introduced PPM-based trade measures.
Trade Ministers’ Coalition Seeks to Put Climate Action at the Heart of Global Trade Policies
Carolyn Deere Birkbeck provides an overview of the new Coalition of Trade Ministers on Climate, highlighting the importance of cooperation and strong political leadership moving forward.
Paris-aligned or Paris-misaligned? Fossil fuel financing under the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development's Paris alignment methodology
With the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development revising its Energy Sector Strategy this year, the EBRD faces a key opportunity to tighten its restrictions on fossil fuel financing to align with international best practice.
Toward Multipurpose Trade Policy? How competing narratives about globalization are reshaping international trade cooperation
Nicolas Lamp outlines the shift to multipurpose trade policy and discusses its challenges and implications for international trade cooperation.
AfCFTA’s Ali: Watch for More African Trade Thanks to Guided Trade Initiative
Jennifer Freedman details what negotiating steps are left to finalize the long-delayed African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
Sustainability and the New Zealand-EU Free Trade Agreement: A step up in accountability
John Ballingall describes the ambitious and progressive environmental conditions of the New Zealand-EU free trade agreement and what these mean for both parties going forward.
We Need More Hybrid Trade and Environment Agreements
Tancrède Voituriez argues that hybrid trade and environmental agreements are more promising routes to address environmental targets and the governance of trade and the environment.
The Renaissance of Industrial Policy and Its Articulation With Data Governance
Marilia Maciel discusses the transformation of industrial policy as a result of the data economy and what its implications entail for developing countries.