Although small states' total share of global trade has been declining over time, specific sectors, including those related to the ocean economy, have been experiencing growth. A number of Commonwealth coastal small states have been pioneering blue...

The withdrawal of international support measures raises sustainability concerns among countries graduating from the category of least developed countries (LDCs). Despite care taken to ensure a smooth transition, these concerns are rife, especially...

This paper provides a rapid assessment of several major emerging trends in international trade with the objective of better appreciating their implications for the world's poorest, smallest and most vulnerable economies, such as least developed...

This paper focuses on the EU market to analyse the potential implications of LDC graduation for Bangladesh's apparel exports. By using a partial equilibrium model, it estimates that discontinuing tariff preferences could lead to a potential export...

This paper proposes the effective use of Aid for Trade (AfT) programmes as one possible means of addressing some of the challenges faced by LDCs and small states in the services sector. It examines possible ways to enhance the capacity and...

Historically, technology has served as a critical driver of globalisation, underpinning the rapid expansion in world trade and driving human progress, raising living standards and welfare, and precipitating transformative improvements in human...

Drawing on the negotiations and other developments that transpired in the run up to MC11 and thereafter, the paper underlines four core directions to be considered while giving shape to a revamped LDC agenda. First, the de facto dissolution of the...

This paper focuses on twenty-first century trade governance patterns within Commonwealth countries. The specific research questions it explores are: first, what is the distinction between the ‘trade governance’ and ‘good governance’ agendas? Second,...

Several econometric techniques with different degrees of sophistication have been used to assess the impact of Aid for Trade (AfT) on trade and other economic performance in recipient countries, especially at the macro level, not all of which have...

The Commonwealth's member countries share unique historical ties, as well as resilient diaspora communities with linguistic and institutional similarities. These links could facilitate co-operation and contribute to increased trade, investment and...

With the ratification of the Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA) in 2016 under the aegis of the World Trade Organization, India has launched a comprehensive agenda for trade facilita­tion reforms to fulfil its legal commitments and improve its global...

The discussion on improving disciplines on fisheries subsidies and making a contribution towards sustainable fishing and managing global fisheries has been ongoing at the World Trade Organization (WTO) since the WTO Doha Ministerial Conference held...

Africa’s tourism GVCs are notable for many features, including the durability of package booking channels, low domestic demand for tourism, the presence of global — rather than regional — lead firms and the corresponding implications for leakages...

In the context of the African Union’s 50-year vision, Agenda 2063, this paper provides an analyti­cal account and critical assessment of Africa’s strategic trade relations with two of its most impor­tant traditional partners, the European Union and...

The scale of the challenge posed by the recent universal adoption of the 2030 Agenda and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in relation to the achievement of economic, social and environmental objectives is formidable. In order to achieve the...

In a dynamic, rapidly liberalising and fiercely competitive international environment, Caribbean Community (CARICOM) countries see the pooling of their national efforts through the Caribbean Single Market and Economy as a central plank for overcoming...

This paper examines global value chain (GVC) activity in Sub-Saharan Africa, through the lens of newly assembled data on value added trade. It finds that GVC participation is quite weak by world standards. Although there are emerging intra-regional...

This paper examines global value chain (GVC) activity in the Caribbean, through the lens of newly assembled data on value added trade. It finds that GVC participation is quite weak by world standards. Moreover, connections with the large regional...

This paper examines global value chain (GVC) activity in the Pacific, through the lens of newly assembled data on value added trade. It finds that GVC participation is very weak by world standards. Connections with relatively large markets like...

This paper examines the interaction of the international fisheries trade regime, global value chains in tuna and socio-economic development in low-income Commonwealth countries. The first section sketches the long historical relationship between...