Advancing Gender Equality through Voluntary Standards for Trade

Voluntary sustainability standards (VSS) have emerged as one of the main tools used to articulate, encourage and enforce sustainable and ethical practices in global value chains. With this study we explore the nature and evolution of VSS and assess their potential contribution to gender equality and women’s empowerment (SDG 5). The purpose of the study is to enable policymakers in developing and emerging economies to identify opportunities to engage with VSS initiatives as a means to deliver on gender commitments while also promoting trade and economic development.  

Modernisation of the EU-Chile trade agreement - sustainability impact assessment

The final study assessing the impact of the modernisation of the EU-Chile trade agreement has now been published, along with the position paper prepared by the European Commission. The study analyses which economic, social, environmental, and human rights impact the agreement's modernisation could have, depending on the outcomes of the ongoing negotiations.

For more information, including executive summaries and other reports, visit the study website.

Research note: Covid-19 support to businesses risks leaving behind companies in developing countries

Most governments in the world have announced, and are implementing, programmes to respond both to the health and economic consequences of Covid-19. However, the magnitude of responses to Covid-19 (including health responses and economic stimulus packages) by governments has varied considerably, from nothing to about half of GDP.[1]

A simple linear regression between the level of support and some possible explanatory factors – the forecast level of impact of Covid-19 on the economy, GDP per capita, and the level of government debt before the crisis – shows that not the severity of the anticipated economic impact Covid-19 but GDP per capita is the most important of these three factors (for more details see below).

New study launched to prepare for the EU Generalised Scheme of Preferences after 2023

Since 1971, the EU GSP scheme offers easier access to the EU market for goods exported from developing countries by eliminating or reducing import tariffs unilaterally. The current legal basis for the GSP, Council Regulation (EU) No 978/2012, will expire at the end of 2023. If no new GSP Regulation is enacted, only imports from least developed countries (LDCs) would continue to benefit from preferntial access under the "Everything But Arms" (EBA) arrangement.