Title page
Contents
Acknowledgments 2
Key Points 5
Introduction 8
The 2024 High-Level Political Forum and the WTO 8
Trade as a catalyst for sustainable development: navigating challenges in a fragmented world 8
SDG 1: No Poverty 11
Multilateral trade has led to rising income levels and reduced poverty 11
Fragmentation hinders global economic convergence and poverty reduction 12
WTO rules and fl xibilities offer a means of poverty reduction 13
More open and predictable agriculture and services markets could reduce poverty 14
Increasing opportunities for the poor to gain from the digital transformation 15
Policies targeting the specific hallenges faced by the poor are necessary 16
SDG 2: Zero Hunger 17
Current threats to food security 17
Trade in food and farm goods has helped to absorb economic shocks and strengthen resilience 17
Trade supports livelihoods and improves access to food 18
Trade has helped bring food prices down from recent record peaks 19
Many developing economies still face high food prices due to inflatio 20
The WTO is contributing to progress 20
Negotiating reforms to agricultural trade rules 20
Providing a space for dialogue 21
Conducting research and monitoring policies 21
Building capacity 22
Communication and engagement 22
SDG 13: Climate Action 23
Trade can be part of the solution to environmental challenges 23
Trade can increase transportation and production-related pollution 23
Trade can also promote environmental protection by diffusing green technologies 23
Trade-related policy tools are increasingly used to address environmental challenges 24
Policy fragmentation could hinder the green transition 24
Geopolitical tensions threaten environmental sustainability 25
Services and digital trade offer a greener future 25
Integrated trade and environmental governance 25
Trade policy tools for climate action 25
Government procurement and climate action 26
The green transition offers development opportunities 27
The role of the WTO in supporting environmental sustainability 28
SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions 29
The relationship between trade and peace 29
The effects of conflict on trade 29
The effects of trade on conflic 29
The history of the multilateral trading system 29
Contribution of WTO accessions to SDG 16 30
Technical assistance and capacity building 30
The Trade for Peace Programme 31
The WTO Trade Policy Review mechanism: building stronger institutions for development 31
SDG 17: Partnerships for Trade and Development 33
Trade as a tool for development 33
References 35
Endnotes 38
Figure 1. World merchandise trade volume and GDP growth, 2018-2025 9
Figure 2. Growth of digitally delivered services exports and goods exports by region, 2023 9
Figure 3. International trade has contributed to extreme poverty reduction 12
Figure 4. Agricultural trade value grew fi e-fold between 2000 and 2022 18
Figure 5. Evolution of average applied tariffs worldwide on agricultural products 19
Figure 6. Progress towards the elimination of agricultural export subsidies 21
Figure 7. Increase in trade-related environmental policies under various WTO Agreements 24
Boxes
Box 1. Aid for Trade and the transition to clean energy 27