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This research paper analyzes the impact of US tariffs on Latin American economies and the subsequent indirect risks posed by China's potential policy responses. The authors argue that while direct US tariffs hit Mexico and Central America hardest, South American countries are more vulnerable to a slowdown in Chinese demand for raw materials.

This research paper analyzes the transition of international trade and climate discussions from abstract principles to practical implementation. It examines the role of the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in managing climate-related trade measures, such as carbon border adjustments and deforestation regulations, ahead of the WTO's 14th Ministerial Conference (MC14).

This research paper analyzes the impact of US tariffs on Latin American economies and the subsequent indirect risks posed by China's economic response. The authors argue that while direct US tariffs heavily affect Mexico and Central America, the greater risk for South American nations lies in a potential decline in Chinese demand for raw materials resulting from US-China trade tensions.

This report traces 50 years of UN sustainable development and climate policy, detailing the transition from the 1992 UNFCCC and the 1997 Kyoto Protocol to the 2015 Paris Agreement. It examines the shift from rigid distinctions between industrialized and developing nations toward a more dynamic model of 'common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities' (CBDR-RC). While the Paris Agreement achieved universal participation through Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), the document notes that current collective promises remain insufficient to limit warming to 1.5°C, potentially leading to a temperature rise exceeding 3°C if not significantly increased.

This research paper by the International Institute for Sustainable Development analyzes the shift in international trade and climate discussions from abstract principles to practical application. It focuses on the role of the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in managing Climate-related Trade Measures (CTMs), specifically carbon border adjustment mechanisms and deforestation regulations, ahead of the WTO's 14th Ministerial Conference (MC14).

This research paper by Iryna Bogdanova analyzes the role and effectiveness of technological sanctions imposed on Russia following its invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022. It examines the transition from the vague sanctions of 2014 to the extensive export controls of 2022, the impact of private sector withdrawals, and Russia's strategies to circumvent these restrictions through self-sufficiency, reliance on China, and parallel imports.

This briefing by the International Institute for Sustainable Development analyzes the agricultural negotiation priorities for the 13th Ministerial Conference (MC13) of the World Trade Organization (WTO). It emphasizes that while food security is a central goal, success depends on moving beyond non-binding declarations toward binding commitments, particularly regarding export restrictions for Least Developed Countries (LDCs), domestic support, and public stockholding.

This research paper by the International Institute for Sustainable Development analyzes the state of agricultural negotiations ahead of the 14th WTO Ministerial Conference (MC14). It identifies persistent deadlocks regarding domestic support, public food stocks, and market access, while highlighting three specific areas where Least Developed Countries (LDCs) could achieve tangible progress: reducing cotton subsidies, improving market access for cotton products, and securing exemptions from export restrictions.

This research paper analyzes the state of agricultural negotiations at the World Trade Organization (WTO) ahead of the 14th Ministerial Conference (MC14). It details persistent disagreements over domestic support, public food stocks, and market access, while identifying three specific areas where Least Developed Countries (LDCs) could achieve tangible progress: the reduction of trade-distorting cotton subsidies, improved market access for cotton products, and exemptions from export restrictions.

This research paper analyzes the state of electronic commerce debates within the World Trade Organization (WTO) leading up to the 13th Ministerial Conference (MC13) in February 2024. It examines two parallel tracks: the multilateral Work Programme on Electronic Commerce and the plurilateral Joint Statement Initiative (JSI) on Electronic Commerce, focusing on the tension between developed and developing economies regarding digital trade rules and the moratorium on customs duties for electronic transmissions.

This research paper by Robert Howse analyzes the current state of the World Trade Organization (WTO) dispute settlement system following the blockage of the Appellate Body by the Trump administration. Howse argues that despite the absence of a functioning Appellate Body, the system remains resilient as panels continue to follow established jurisprudence, and some members are experimenting with ad hoc arbitration mechanisms like the MPIA.

This briefing analyzes the agricultural negotiations for the 13th Ministerial Conference (MC13) of the World Trade Organization (WTO), focusing on food security, domestic support, and the specific needs of Least Developed Countries (LDCs). It argues that success depends on moving beyond non-binding declarations toward binding commitments to regulate food and agricultural trade.

This briefing by Thiru Balasubramaniam of Knowledge Ecology International examines the stalled negotiations within the World Trade Organization (WTO) regarding a waiver of the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) to improve global access to COVID-19 health technologies ahead of the 12th Ministerial Conference (MC12).

This report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) analyzes the outcomes of the 17th Conference of the Parties (COP 17) to the UNFCCC held in Durban, South Africa, in 2011. It evaluates the progress made toward a binding global climate agreement, the operationalization of financing and adaptation mechanisms, and the remaining gaps in mitigation ambition.

This report examines the tension between trade liberalization and environmental conservation in the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS). It highlights how rapid economic growth and infrastructure development have exacerbated illegal wildlife and timber trade and increased vulnerability to climate change, while regional governance remains hampered by non-binding agreements and limited administrative capacity.

This report examines the potential, status, and barriers facing Energy Service Companies (ESCOs) in developing countries. It analyzes how ESCOs use energy performance contracting (EPC) to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and energy consumption, highlighting China as a major success story while identifying systemic financing, administrative, and policy hurdles in other regions.

This fact sheet outlines the economic and environmental benefits of Green Public Procurement (GPP) based on the IISD GPP model, highlighting that GPP can offset its own costs through energy, health, and environmental savings.

This report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) examines how performance requirements (PRs)—stipulations imposed on foreign investors to achieve specific development goals—are treated in international investment treaties. It analyzes the tension between the use of PRs to foster sustainable development and the prohibitions on such measures found in WTO agreements and bilateral investment treaties (BITs), highlighting the risks to the policy space of developing countries.

This report analyzes the fiscal implications of the clean energy transition for the BRICS nations (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa), focusing on the reliance of government budgets on fossil fuel revenues and the impact of existing subsidies.

This case study examines Botswana's strategy to develop downstream diamond beneficiation by leveraging its strong bargaining position during license negotiations with De Beers. The government established a framework to move from raw diamond extraction into cutting, polishing, and trading, though it faces ongoing challenges from low-cost Asian competitors and depleting reserves.