Trade
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 functioning within a rules-based system; innovative financing for sustainable infrastructure; border-carbon adjustment measures; and whether trade can accelerate the transition to renewable energy sources, improve food security, and eliminate harmful fisheries subsidies and fossil fuel 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 in this area is backed by 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:
- UK aid from the UK government, including its Trade and Investment Advocacy Fund (TAF2+);
- the Pew Charitable Trusts;
- the German Corporation for International Cooperation (GIZ);
- the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida);
- the Swedish Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Swedish MFA);
- the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (NZ MFAT);
- the Government of Finland.
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 quarterly magazine 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 the corrosive effects they can have on environmental quality, economic development, and governance.
Trade Events
Reclaiming the Feminist Space in the Global “Trade and Gender” Debate: What role for human rights?
This roundtable will bring together experts on women’s rights, feminist economics, and trade policy to assess opportunities to advance gender equality in trade policy.
IISD at the 2022 UN Ocean Conference
IISD experts will participate in the UN Ocean Conference in Lisbon to share insights on topics related to trade and sustainability in ocean-based economies.
Trade and Sustainability Hub 2022
IISD’s second Trade and Sustainability Hub reconvened our community of stakeholders alongside the World Trade Organization's 12th Ministerial Conference to discuss how trade policy can contribute to sustainable development.
Fisheries Subsidies: Supporting the implementation of new WTO rules
Ahead of the WTO Twelfth Ministerial Conference, this webinar explored some of the international cooperation opportunities available to WTO Members for the implementation of the new rules for fisheries subsidies.
Experts

Nathalie Bernasconi-Osterwalder
Executive Director, IISD Europe; Senior Director, Economic Law & Policy

Peter Wooders
Senior Director, Energy

Sofia Baliño
Senior Manager, Communications & Engagement

Ieva Baršauskaitė
Senior Policy Advisor

Steffany Bermúdez
Policy Analyst

Facundo Calvo
Policy Analyst, Trade and Agriculture

Liesbeth Casier
Lead, Public Procurement and Sustainable Infrastructure Policy and Coordinator of the NBI Global Resource Centre

Aaron Cosbey
Senior Associate

Tristan Irschlinger
Policy Advisor, Fisheries Subsidies

Rashmi Jose
Policy Advisor

Elena Kosolapova (Dr.)
Senior Policy Advisor, Tracking Progress

Cristina Larrea
Lead II, Sustainability Standards

Soledad Leal Campos
Lead, Sustainable Trade

Tom Moerenhout
Associate

Sandra Polaski
Senior Fellow

Florencia Sarmiento
Policy Analyst

Ronald Steenblik
Senior Fellow

Alice Tipping
Lead, Sustainable Trade and Fisheries Subsidies

Scott Vaughan
Senior Fellow

Vivek Voora
Senior Associate

Lynn Wagner
Senior Director, Tracking Progress

Joe Zhang
Senior Law Advisor
Latest
Trade-related topics

Investment Law & Policy
How can we ensure developing countries attract the sort of 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
Voluntary sustainability standards contribute to biodiversity conservation, poverty reduction, and gender equality.

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.