ITC publications bring the business voice to sustainable trade, with a focus on developing countries. We offer guidance for trade policymakers, business support organizations and small firms. Our reports offer insights to make trade more inclusive, green, digital and competitive.
International business investors can embed sustainability in each step of their operations. This guide describes the social, environmental and economic practices that international firms must understand when entering a new market.
The design of governance structure of social and environmental sustainability standards determines how accessible they are to producers in developing countries.The increase in consumer demand for sustainable trade has given rise to a growing array of social and environmental standards. This joint...
This report on the ITC World Export Development Forum on Consumers, Ethics and Environment (October 2008), reflects on what ethical trade means, the growth in the global fair trade and ethical markets, how entrepreneurs in developing countries can break into these markets, and what trade support...
Many climate-smart technologies exist in Pakistan to help farmers adapt to climate change. These include commercially available technologies and those developed locally. Various factors hinder their uptake, limiting climate resilience.
Understanding the global demand for environmental goods and services can unlock new export opportunities for developing country SMEs. This study provides a market overview of this complex sector, which reached an estimated US$ 866 billion in 2011, and is expected to rise to US$ 1.9 trillion by 2020...
Nepal could lose 4.3% of exports because of tariff changes when it graduates from least developed country status in 2026. The removal of preferential tariffs will especially affect the apparel, synthetic textile fabric and carpet sectors. Losses will mostly occur in exports to China, the European...
Trade improves the food supply of least developed countries (LDCs), but import dependence on concentrated suppliers of cereals, vegetable oils and sugar threatens their food security. In 2022, increasing food and fertiliser prices, the war in Ukraine and export restrictions depressed LDC food...
This report was prepared as an input to Rwanda’s Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources for the development of their action plan for organic agriculture and trade. It can also serve as a model for a policy for organic in other developing countries as well as give some guidance for existing...
Lao People’s Democratic Republic could lose 7.3%, or $734 million, of exports when graduating from least developed country (LDC) status. The most affected sectors will be natural rubber and latex, paper products and apparel, with losses largely in Chinese and European markets.
Global value chains in services can boost economies of small developing countries. The case of Costa Rica illustrates how global value chains in services can enable small developing countries to be significant actors in twenty-first century trade and investment patterns, as well as the challenges to...
