Trade Policy and Trade Agreements| Markets and Trade | Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

Trade agreements influence patterns of trade, as well as the production and consumption of food. Ongoing World Trade Organization (WTO) agricultural negotiations and a rapid increase in bilateral, regional and mega-regional trade agreements have seen trade rules becoming more complex. In this context, FAO assists its Members to implement trade agreements and to prepare for trade negotiations, through studies, analyses, capacity development and experience sharing. This support ensures countries’ effective participation in the multilateral trading system and promotes that the benefits of trade are shared by all.

Key messages

Multilateral trade rules, which take into account the specific needs of developing countries, are needed to ensure that the expansion of agricultural trade is conducive to the eradication of hunger, food insecurity and malnutrition.

Trade policies must consider the different needs and roles of large-scale agricultural producers and smallholders and family farms.

FAO emphasizes the need to strengthen coordinated and participatory policy-making processes and promotes more inclusive, transparent, and predictable rules for trade policy making and implementation.

Publications

Agricultural policy monitoring for eight countries in Eastern Europe, Caucasus and Central Asia

17/11/2022

This study reviews the agricultural policy environment and provides quantitative indicators for policy incentives and disincentives to agricultural producers for key commodity value chains in the eight study countries in Eastern Europe, Caucasus and Central Asia (Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, the Republic of Moldova, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan).

FAO trade expert networks - Media Kit

03/10/2022

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) supports regional ‘trade expert networks’ that provide neutral and independent platforms for the exchange of knowledge and experience on agrifood trade issues. Experts include government trade officials, researchers from academia, and professionals from industry associations—specialists who conduct policy-relevant analysis, carry out training programmes, and advise government and the private sector on issues related to agrifood trade and trade policy. Currently, three networks are active in Eastern Europe, Caucasus and Central Asia (EECCA), Sub- Saharan Africa, and Near East and North Africa (NENA). This media kit introduces each of the three expert networks, including highlights of recent work and ways to get in touch.

Alliances for Action: Guide for export promotion

02/09/2022

This guide presents a step-by-step approach to assist development practitioners, national authorities and the private sector in facilitating the development of export promotion programs through building multi-stakeholder value chain (VC) alliances to compete in international markets. The guide draws from the Alliances for Action (A4A) approach, which was developed by the International Trade Centre (ITC). A4A has been proven to be effective in mobilizing VC and supporting participants in an ecosystem around a shared purpose to transform VC performance in terms of competitiveness, value addition, and export growth, among other targets. This helps practitioners and value chain stakeholders understand the critical steps and processes in the establishment of successful alliances, which lead to product upgrading, the establishment of new market outlets, and the promotion of sustainable production and consumption.