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The document assesses six policy options to raise cocoa prices and farmer incomes to combat poverty, deforestation, and child labour. It concludes that most trade-based interventions, such as export price regimes or import duties, are unsustainable in the long term due to risks of over-supply, reduced consumer demand, and WTO compatibility issues. The author identifies bilateral partnership agreements as the most promising approach to create the governance and sustainability standards necessary for a comprehensive sector reform.

The report provides a status update on the WTO's Joint Statement Initiative (JSI) on e-commerce, noting that while the COVID-19 pandemic accelerated global digital adoption, it also highlighted significant digital divides and complicated diplomatic negotiations. As of February 2021, 86 WTO members are participating in the JSI. Progress has been made in ten specialized small groups on issues such as consumer protection and electronic signatures, but deep divergences remain regarding data flows, privacy, and cybersecurity. The document also notes limited progress on provisions specifically addressing gender, least-developed countries (LDCs), and micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs).

The document provides a detailed update on the WTO's efforts to create a multilateral framework for investment facilitation. It covers the impact of COVID-19 on foreign direct investment (FDI) and governance, the evolution of negotiating texts (from 'simplified' to 'informal consolidated' and 'revised' texts), and the specific thematic areas under discussion, such as transparency, administrative simplification, and the 'firewall' provision to isolate the framework from International Investment Agreements (IIAs).

The document examines the impact of COVID-19 on agricultural value chains within the SADC region, noting that while the sector was less affected than others, the pandemic intensified existing vulnerabilities. Key challenges identified include a heavy reliance on subsistence farming, food insecurity, and the effects of climate change. The authors argue for a 'dual approach' that supports both small-scale and large-scale commercial farming, the adoption of climate-smart technologies, and the digitalisation of value chains. The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) is highlighted as a critical mechanism for enhancing regional trade and protecting small-scale farmers.

The International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) has compiled the most recent subsidy notifications from WTO members specifically regarding marine wild capture fisheries. The tool is designed to support the negotiation of new WTO rules by providing a centralized resource, intentionally excluding subsidies for aquaculture and inland fishing.

The report analyzes three types of food system shocks—the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2015–2016 Southern African drought, and the US-China trade war—to argue that existing WTO rules are insufficient to prevent harmful trade measures during crises. It highlights how climate change will increase the frequency of extreme weather events, further destabilizing food markets. The authors propose 13 recommendations centered on four objectives: ensuring food access for the poor, safeguarding farmer livelihoods, improving market functions through sustainable resource allocation, and restoring multilateral trust. Key proposals include banning export restrictions on humanitarian aid, cutting high tariff peaks, and establishing a special safeguard mechanism for low-income countries.

The report analyzes how pre-pandemic economic conditions in 60 developing nations create vulnerabilities to COVID-19-induced trade shocks. It examines five key markets—production, trade, capital, currency, and labour—to identify risks such as global value chain disruptions, 'sudden stops' in foreign investment, and currency crises. The analysis emphasizes that countries with high reliance on specific sectors like international tourism or those with significant trade deficits and foreign-denominated debt are most at risk. The author urges the diversification of global value chains over protectionism to build long-term resilience.

The document analyzes the evolving economic relationship between Africa and China, highlighting a trade imbalance where Africa primarily exports raw commodities and imports manufactured goods. It suggests that the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and Special Economic Zones (SEZs) can attract Chinese foreign direct investment to boost local manufacturing. While China is a primary source of infrastructure funding via the Belt and Road Initiative, the report notes concerns over debt sustainability, though it argues these are often tainted by geopolitics. Finally, it discusses the opportunities and risks of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR), urging African nations to harmonize regulations and improve digital infrastructure to avoid a widening digital divide.

The document examines the intersection of circular economy practices and international trade as a means to achieve net-zero emissions. It highlights the carbon-reduction potential of shifting from primary to secondary materials, the growth of circular business models like the sharing economy and product longevity, and the need for trade policies to remove barriers to green goods and services. The authors advocate for the use of bilateral and regional trade agreements to establish standards for circularity, noting that current international frameworks like the WTO and the Basel Convention are insufficient.

The document examines the evolution of the digital divide from basic infrastructure access (A2A) to access to knowledge and data (A2K). It assesses how the WTO's JSI on e-commerce addresses these gaps, arguing that current proposals—largely driven by developed nations—often overlook the developmental needs of LDCs and developing countries. Key areas of analysis include the necessity of 'enabling' e-commerce ecosystems, the risks of restrictive data flow and localization rules, and the impact of prohibiting government access to source code on technology transfer.

The report argues that current WTO subsidy rules are insufficient for addressing fossil fuel subsidies because they focus on trade implications rather than environmental concerns. It suggests that the WTO can better support subsidy reform by increasing transparency, improving the enforcement of existing rules, and negotiating new, stronger regulations.

The document identifies six key areas where technical assistance and capacity building (TACB) are needed to implement a future WTO instrument on fisheries subsidies: identifying and notifying subsidies, ensuring compliance with prohibitions, establishing domestic rules, re-purposing subsidy schemes, identifying IUU fishing and overfished stocks, and strengthening management regimes. Analysis of OECD and Pew Charitable Trusts data from 2012–2017 reveals that while fisheries-related official development assistance (ODA) has grown, it remains a small fraction (0.3%) of total sector-allocable ODA. The brief finds a significant gap in support for subsidy reform and IUU monitoring, while a large portion of funding is directed toward general fisheries management and development projects that may inadvertently increase fishing capacity in regions like Africa.

The document argues that South Africa must update its Trade Policy Strategic Framework to address the 'new normal' post-COVID-19, focusing on regional integration, digital trade, and a redesigned multilateral trading system. It highlights the critical role of the Southern African Customs Union (SACU) and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) in diversifying markets and enhancing industrialisation, while urging a strategic shift in South Africa's approach to the World Trade Organization (WTO) and traditional partners like the US and EU.

The report examines the technical and legal implications of the proposed Multilateral Framework on Investment Facilitation (MFIF) within the WTO. It identifies significant overlaps between the MFIF and the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS), as well as potential conflicts with the existing regime of International Investment Agreements (IIAs). The analysis warns that despite explicit exclusions of investor-state dispute settlement (ISDS) from the MFIF, the framework's disciplines could still be invoked in ISDS tribunals through 'umbrella clauses,' Fair and Equitable Treatment (FET) standards, and Most-Favored-Nation (MFN) clauses found in IIAs.

The report examines the proposed Multilateral Framework on Investment Facilitation (MFIF) being developed through a Joint Statement Initiative (JSI) among WTO Members. It identifies significant overlaps between the MFIF and existing WTO agreements, particularly the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS) and the JSI on Services Domestic Regulation (SDR), noting that the MFIF often imposes 'GATS-extra' obligations. The analysis warns that despite the MFIF's explicit exclusion of investor-state dispute settlement (ISDS), its disciplines could still be enforced through IIAs via umbrella clauses, fair and equitable treatment (FET) standards, and most-favoured-nation (MFN) provisions, potentially exposing states to monetary compensation claims in investor-state tribunals.

The report examines how MSMEs are integrated into regional and multilateral trade frameworks, noting a trend toward more sophisticated but often non-binding 'goodwill' provisions in newer 'next-generation' agreements. It highlights specific areas of support such as trade facilitation, public procurement, and e-commerce, while noting a persistent gap in the explicit integration of gender-specific MSME support.

The paper argues that the TSD Chapter of the EU-Mercosur Association Agreement is not fit for purpose, citing its inability to reinforce Paris Agreement commitments, a weak dispute settlement mechanism lacking sanctions, and insufficient monitoring of environmental and social impacts. It highlights gaps in the agreement's scope regarding human rights and supply chain responsibility, and recommends fundamental reforms to monitoring, enforcement, and the role of civil society.

The research investigates the hypothesis that African agricultural exporters could substitute for US goods rendered expensive by tariffs. Using trade data from 2017 to 2019, the author finds that while African exports to China grew, the rate of growth declined over time and was significantly lower than that of competitors in Asia and Latin America and the Caribbean. The paper argues that Africa has been unable to fully capitalise on the trade war due to a lack of state incentives, poor manufacturing sectors, and a failure to develop specific industries like pork, despite the potential created by the African swine flu in China.

The report analyzes the 2022 updates to the Harmonized System (HS), which provide more specific commodity codes for environmental goods and sensitive products. Key improvements include the separation of solar photovoltaic cells from LEDs and new codes for electronic waste. The author argues that such specificity is crucial for accurate trade statistics and the negotiation of trade agreements like the Agreement on Climate Change, Trade and Sustainability (ACCTS). The document also proposes a 'wish list' of further specifications for the 2027 HS revision, including electrolyzers, fuel cells, and electrified aircraft and ships.

The document details the evolution of MSME-focused initiatives at the WTO, specifically the work of an Informal Working Group (IWG) consisting of over 90 members. It outlines the group's efforts to develop non-binding outcomes for the Twelfth Ministerial Conference (MC12), focusing on access to information, trade finance, trade facilitation, and good regulatory practices. The briefing also compares these efforts with SME-related provisions in regional trade agreements like the CPTPP and USMCA, and the work of international bodies such as the OECD and UNCTAD.