Trade and Development

Trade is a powerful engine. But who is driving the engine? And what else needs to be done to let all parts of society benefit from trade policy? We try to empower those who are not yet the main beneficiaries of the current trade policy regime. Trade policy should not be dealt with in isolation which is why we link trade policy with other policy areas such as human rights and labour rights. We have our finger on the pulse of emerging issues in the area of investment policy, digitalization, and illicit financial flows – areas which are of critical importance for development. Based in Geneva, we are following closely the discussions at the WTO, UNCTAD, ILO, ITC and of the various bodies of the UN Human Rights System in our economic related projects.

Media

30.05.2025 | 2025, Trade and Development | Media Center

How should a just and sustainable agreement for international agriculture trade look like?

Read now: First working paper of the “Agreement on Agriculture Re-Imagined” project


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08.05.2025 | 2025, Trade and Development | Media Center

Human rights impact assessments in trade agreements

Elaborating a short and practical guide for HRIA


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Events

Thursday, 27.11.2025 - Online, 3pm CET | 2025, Trade and Development | Event
Trade Union Talks TUTT 3 - English

Join us for our 3rd edition of the Trade Union Tarde Talks (TUTT)


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Monday, 29.09.2025 - 13:00 (GMT) , Online | 2025, Trade and Development | Event

A knowledge exchange to shape the conversation on trade policies that affect African workers, particularly in the context of the AfCFTA.


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Thursday, 20.11.2025 - 13:15-14:45 PM, Geneva Graduate Institute (IHEID), Ivan Pictet Auditorium, Chem. Eugène-Rigot 2, 1202 Geneva | 2025, Trade and Development | Event

Study launch & panel discussion


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Publications

Koch, Cédric M. ; Korn, Franziska ; Rohde, Nora ; Horn, Miriam-Lena

Competitive international partnerships

instruments, partner demands, and reforms for the socio-ecological transformation

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Gerout, Guillaume ; Cren-Larvor, Anaĩs

Tariffs and human rights

a pilot analysis of the AfCFTA tariff schedules

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Dommen, Caroline

Gender equality in WTO trade policy reviews

the case of Germany

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Barrie, Jack ; Grooby, Gael

Going circular

how the harmonized system codes can/not support a circular economy and What else could be done

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Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung

United Nations and Global Dialogue, Office Geneva

Chemin du Pommier 42
1218 Le Grand-Saconnex
Switzerland

+41 (0)22 733 34 50
+41 (0)22 733 35 45

info.geneva(at)fes.de
geneva.fes.de

Contact

 

Contact

Matthias Pesch

Program Officer
Trade – Development and Human Rights

matthias.pesch(at)fes.de