World Trade Organization, Mainstreaming trade to attain the Sustainable Development Goals

Trade has a key role to play in meeting the United Nation’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Historically, trade has proven to be an engine for development and poverty reduction by boosting growth, particularly in developing countries. By increasing growth, trade can also make available the necessary resources to implement other development targets in the social and environmental sphere.

This report identifies ten steps that would help to ensure that international trade contributes to accelerating progress in achieving the SDGs.  Among them is a recommendation to continue reducing trade costs including through full implementation of the WTO’s Trade Facilitation Agreement, and to ensure that non-tariff measures do not become barriers to trade.