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This executive summary examines the gendered impacts of trade liberalization in South American countries, focusing on employment in non-traditional agro-exports, urban labor markets, and the informal sector. It highlights a tension between increased female activity rates and human capital and the persistence of precarious working conditions and unemployment.

This briefing by the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) analyzes China's preferential trade policy for African Least Developed Countries (LDCs). While the policy is designed to align with the export capacities of these nations, the author argues that its economic impact is modest compared to its symbolic and diplomatic value in signaling China's rise as a global power and alternative to Western donors.

This research paper analyzes the environmental impacts of trade liberalization on the organic agriculture sector in Lao PDR. It examines how increased market access to the EU, US, and ASEAN countries creates opportunities for 'organic by default' products but also poses risks such as deforestation and the potential shift toward intensive agriculture due to irregular supply and a lack of formal certification systems.

This research paper examines the environmental implications of trade liberalization within the silk handicrafts sector of Lao PDR. While the sector is currently characterized by a low environmental footprint due to organic sericulture and natural dyeing, the author warns that scaling up production to meet growing international demand may lead to increased water pollution and land-use pressures. The paper suggests that maintaining 'green' credentials is essential for accessing premium niche markets and recommends the implementation of a National Export Strategy, improved wastewater treatment, and the establishment of a National Production Centre for sericulture.

This 2007 report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) and Recursos e Investigación para el Desarrollo Sustenable (RIDES) provides a preliminary assessment of the sustainability of tourism in Chile within the context of trade liberalization. It examines the economic, social, and environmental impacts of the sector, the role of the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS), and the challenges of balancing private investment with local development and environmental conservation.