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.
This guide offers small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) insights on negotiation and collaboration with lead firms in international value chains. It addresses topics such as compliance with standards and regulations, contractual relationships, production and performance management, types of...
Difficult customs procedures, barriers to investment, and labour regulations limiting movement and hiring of personnel are the most stringent obstacles for logistics services providers in developing countries.This study finds that policymakers need to respond to traders’ concerns by promoting...
Trade rules and procedures pose challenges for 73% of surveyed businesses in the Philippines, according to ITC interviews with over 1000 exporters and importers.The survey results offer the Philippine government to address non-tariff measures in the domestic business environment, based on detailed...
This report outlines women’s roles in cotton production in Africa, Asia and Latin America. It compares women’s participation in the total workforce in these regions and suggests how to improve competitiveness by re-evaluating the roles of women.
Inadequate export quality infrastructure is seriously affecting Nepalese exporters.Half of 577 surveyed companies in Nepal (exporters, producers, logistics providers) face difficulties in proving compliance for buyer requirements, due to inadequate testing and certification bodies. The report...
Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) can benefit more if the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement is implemented in a coordinated manner at regional level. This report charts a roadmap for regional policy frameworks on trade facilitation. Such arrangements have the potential to boost...
Trade in biodiversity generates income for some of the world’s poorest people, while also contributing to wildlife conservation. Two reports on python skin exports in Peninsular Malaysia and Viet Nam outline how this trade from wild-harvested and captive-bred sources creates employment and reduces...
Sustainability initiatives are more effective and efficient when they fully engage the middle tiers of supply chains.Those creating sustainability initiatives (a standards-setting organization, government or company) will find useful guidance, including corporate approaches to sustainable sourcing,...
Voluntary standards have been rising fast, leading to similar standards operating in the same markets. This study finds multiple standards in 86 of 90 markets it reviewed, which creates confusion for consumers and producers alike. This joint report with the European University Institute is the...
BRICS countries – Brazil, the Russian Federation, India, China, and South Africa – have emerged as important players in global services trade in the past decade. BRICS services exports are growing faster than the developed countries; their share in global services markets is also expanding...
