WTO report highlights role of trade in meeting SDGs and assisting economic recovery
The WTO has highlighted the role of trade
in helping countries recover from the COVID-19 pandemic in a report submitted
to the UN’s High-level Political Forum (HLPF) on Sustainable Development to be
held in July. The report also examines the WTO’s contribution to improving
livelihoods, achieving sustainable development and making trade work for
people, priorities on which Director-General NgoziOkonjo-Iweala has placed
renewed emphasis.
5 SDGs
The WTO report contains an analysis of
the trade performance of developing countries. It also discusses the impact of
the conflict in Ukraine and looks into trade topics related to the SDGs.
Five Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
will be under consideration at the 2022 HLPF, which will take place from 5 July
to 7 July and from 11 July to 15 July:
Goal 4 on education; Goal 5 on gender
equality and women's empowerment ;Goal 14 on life below water; Goal 15 on life on land and Goal 17 on
partnerships for the goals
The forum is
organized annually under the auspices of the UN's Department for Economic and
Social Affairs.
In its report to the 2022 HLPF, the WTO
emphasizes the contribution of trade to improving people's livelihoods and
achieving the five SDGs under review.
On SDGs 4 and 5, the report notes the essential role
played by cooperation and dialogue among international institutions and
relevant stakeholders. In particular, it looks at how this cooperation has
supported domestic policies aimed at increasing online education and supporting
the inclusion of women in trade.
On SDGs 14 and 15, the report highlights that WTO rules
provide space for accommodating environmental concerns, such as measures aimed
at protecting life below water and on land, in trade policy considerations. At
the WTO, negotiations are under way ...
