Equality as a key for international trade

Trade has been in the global spotlight once again in recent times. Recently, ministers from around the world gathered in Abu Dhabi at the WTO for negotiations on world trade in the coming years. However, participants from civil society were silenced. Never before has their freedom been so severely restricted at the WTO. In a time when geopolitical tensions are escalating by the day, it is crucial to prioritize equality in international trade.

While both the EU and the UK are focusing on independence in access to resources and in food production, countries like Indonesia and Brazil are calling for fairer trade. A fair trade that takes human rights, the environment, and local development seriously. And this can only happen if civil society is given the chance to have a serious say in shaping the future of trade.