International trade is the exchange of goods and services across borders. It enables countries to specialize where they have a comparative advantage, expands markets, boosts competition, lowers prices, and increases consumer choice—driving growth and integration.

See: WTO — Understanding the WTO · UNCTAD — Trade Policy

The WTO (est. 1995) is the global body that administers trade rules, provides a forum for negotiations, settles disputes, and supports trade for development—covering 98%+ of world trade.

Visit the WTO

Tariffs are taxes on imports. Higher tariffs protect domestic producers but raise prices and can restrict trade; lower tariffs improve market access and reduce costs for consumers and firms.

WTO — Tariffs explained

SPS measures protect humans, animals, and plants from risks (pests, diseases, food safety). TBT measures are technical regulations/standards and conformity assessment to ensure safety, quality, and environmental protection. Both must not be disguised restrictions on trade.

References: WTO — SPS · WTO — TBT

• International Trade Centre (ITC) — market data & matchmaking for SMEs.
• EU Access2Markets / Trade Helpdesk — requirements & statistics for trading with the EU.
• Canada Trade Commissioner Service — global advisory & partner search.
• World Trade Centers Association — global network of trade offices.
• Enterprise Europe Network — partnership opportunities & compliance support.

An FTA reduces or removes barriers between members, encouraging trade, investment and consumer choice. Examples include the EU–Korea FTA and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

WTO — Trade agreements overview

Trade compliance is adherence to import/export laws—customs, valuation, origin, product standards, documentation, and reporting. Strong compliance reduces risk, avoids penalties, and keeps supply chains moving.

WCO — Voluntary Compliance Framework

The AfCFTA creates a unified African market by progressively eliminating tariffs and simplifying trade rules. It is the largest free trade area by membership and population, supporting industrialization, regional integration, and intra-African trade.

AfCFTA Secretariat (African Union)

NTBs include quotas, licensing, and technical requirements. While they can serve legitimate goals (health, safety, environment), discriminatory or excessive NTBs raise costs and hinder especially SMEs in developing countries.

Learn more: WTO — TBT · UNCTAD — Non-Tariff Measures

Reliable data supports negotiations, risk analysis, competitiveness assessments, and compliance. Key sources provide open statistics for transparency and performance tracking.

Data portals: UNCTADstat · WTO — Statistics

Trade can scale clean technologies, encourage low-carbon production, and align incentives with environmental agreements. Liberalizing environmental goods/services can reduce costs of climate action.

WTO — Trade & Environment

GATS is the WTO treaty for trade in services (e.g., finance, telecoms, tourism). It promotes transparency and progressive liberalization while allowing policy space for public interests.

WTO — GATS Q&A

TRIPS sets minimum standards for IP protection (patents, trademarks, copyright) to support innovation and trade, with flexibilities to protect public health and development needs.

WTO — TRIPS