Regional integration through regional value chains (RVCs) can help sub-Saharan Africa to trigger structural transformation in its economies. The leather and leather products (LLP) industry provides a tremendous opportunity for the region to form RVCs...

This paper analyses empirically whether Aid for Trade (AfT) programmes have assisted the process of structural transformation in African countries. It first analyses the impact on trade flows and trade costs, which are the main channels of...

The trade relationship between India and Pakistan is considered to be one of the most important determinants of the South Asian regional integration initiative. There have been several initiatives taken by India and Pakistan for strengthening...

This paper considers in detail the various factors that drive competitiveness in services, a critical but often overlooked part of the global value chain, and the policy levers available to influence them. Services play a key role in enabling the...

This paper reflects on small and poor developing countries’ needs from a multilateral trading system. Having recognised the importance of the WTO in ensuring predictability for producers and consumers and the limited negotiating capacity of small and...

This paper provides the first specific evaluation of the participation of Commonwealth small states and LDCs in WTO dispute settlement. Despite these countries’ small shares of global trade, the paper queries whether their current limited...

Examines the implications for least developed countries and small and vulnerable economies of two major upcoming regional trade agreements – the Trans-Pacific Partnership and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership.