Featured publications
Trade, food security, and nutrition in Bhutan
06/08/2026
The brief forms part of the Bhutan country case study conducted under the FAO initiative “Trade and Sustainable Agrifood Systems”, funded by the Swiss...
No. 59 Advancing women’s participation in agrifood trade through inclusive policies
27/03/2026
Agrifood trade presents significant potential to enhance women’s economic participation and support broader development outcomes, particularly in low-...
No. 60 The WTO Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies: FAO’s support to Members in its implementation
27/03/2026
The entry into force of the WTO Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies represents a major development in global efforts to align trade policy with sustainable...
No. 61 The dynamic impact of global shipping costs on the food import bill
27/03/2026
Maritime transportation is essential for countries to access basic goods in global markets and to support food security and nutrition, as almost one-quarter...
Publications
No. 53 The WTO Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies and the role of FAO
14/12/2023
The WTO Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies, adopted at the 12th WTO Ministerial Conference (MC12) in June 2002, is the first WTO agreement to focus on the environment and the first legally binding multilateral agreement on marine sustainability. It regulates the provision of fisheries subsidies and recognizes that certain types of subsidies can have a negative impact on the sustainability of marine natural resources.
No. 52 The importance of international trade for fisheries and aquaculture products
14/12/2023
As a result of economic growth, technological advances and trade liberalization, the integration of the fisheries and aquaculture sector into international markets has brought many benefits. These include a more efficient allocation of resources, a wider choice of products for consumers, improved access to fish and seafood, and greater development opportunities, particularly for the most vulnerable countries and populations.
No. 54 Trends in inclusion of environmental related provisions linked to the agriculture, fisheries and forestry sectors in regional trade agreements
14/12/2023
Agriculture, fisheries and forestry are closely linked to the environment and depend on it for their long-term productivity and sustainability. However, if not properly managed, these three sectors can have a negative impact on the environment. Agricultural trade can also have an impact on the environment, and in recent years there has been a renewed focus on how to balance sustainable development and trade liberalization.
No. 51 Improving food safety to foster trade
16/02/2023
Food safety measures are essential to protect the health of consumers and to promote confidence in international markets. It is therefore crucial to ensure that food safety measures and controls are in place to protect public health while avoiding unnecessary costs and barriers to trade.
No. 50 Developments and prospects in the international cotton market
14/02/2023
Cotton is a key driver of economic growth, sustaining millions of farmers and families across 80 countries in five continents. It also represents an important source of foreign exchange for a number of low- and middle-income countries. World cotton trade began to trend upwards in the early 2000s with the implementation of the commitments undertaken at the Uruguay Round of the World Trade Organization (WTO), and is projected to expand steadily over the next decade.
No. 49 Twelfth WTO Ministerial Conference (MC12)
01/08/2022
The Twelfth Ministerial Conference (MC12) of the World Trade Organization (WTO) was held in Geneva, Switzerland, from 12 to 17 June 2022. Following the conclusion of the meeting, this brief reports on its outcome, with particular reference to the negotiations on agriculture and fisheries.
No. 48 Changing patterns of agrifood trade: the rising importance of developing countries
29/10/2021
This policy brief analyses trends in agrifood trade globally and by country group, with a focus on trade patterns of developing countries.
No. 47 Trade and sustainable agrifood systems: pathways of interaction
28/10/2021
This policy brief examines the relation between trade and the three dimensions of sustainability (economic, social, and environmental). Moreover, it investigates the complementary policies to achieve sustainability outcomes and analyses the role of certification schemes in addressing sustainability.
No. 46 Public food stockholding: objectives, experiences and main issues
27/10/2021
This policy brief discusses the different objectives and types of public food stockholding (PSH) programmes, as much as some of the main PSH related issues under discussion in the agricultural negotiations at the World Trade Organization.
No. 45 Enhancing transparency in agrifood trade
26/10/2021
This policy brief aims at informing Members about the importance of transparency in reducing uncertainty and enhance the predictability and stability of international agrifood trade.