The benefits derived from expanded trade may represent a major contribution to development. While a number of developing countries have been successful in increasing their participation in some of the most dynamic sectors of global trade, the bulk of developing countries are still marginalized from that process. Reaping the benefits of deep integration in the world economy depends on the capacity of countries and its people in capturing a higher share of the final value of what they produce and eventually trade. This, in turn, is critically dependent on the terms and conditions in which that integration takes place.

The rules enshrined in the WTO agreements and those being proposed for negotiations under the current Doha Work Programme determine to a great extent, the capacity of developing country governments to access policy instruments and tools that would allow the economic structure of their countries, promote productivity increase and the diversification into high value-added products and services, the creation of employment and income growth for their people. The focus of these rules and negotiations have often been on trade liberalization only, without concentrating on much needed balanced rules that would allow developing countries to enhance their production and supply capacity and thus better integrate in the multilateral trading system. In this sense, these rules are not always conducive to growth and development of all WTO Members.

In line with the South Centre objective to promote south wide collaboration and to promote the common interests and coordinated participation by developing countries in international fora dealing with South-South and North-South matters, as well as other global concerns, the South Centre started working on trade and development issues in 1998. The purpose of this work was to provide assistance to developing countries in the WTO negotiations, through research and policy analysis. In this context, the Trade for Development Programme (TDP) of the South Centre has provided valuable negotiating assistance and capacity building to developing countries in a number of specific areas under negotiation in the WTO such as agriculture, industrial goods, services and commodities.

The ultimate objective of the TDP is to empower countries of the South with knowledge and tools that would allow them to engage as equals with the North on trade relations and negotiations, and change the currents structures of economic global governance in a manner that is more conducive to people-centered development.

In the current phase of consolidation of the South Centre, the TDP is in the process of strengthening its research and policy analysis capacity in order to respond to challenges arising form the expansion of the negotiation agenda both in terms of substantive areas and of fora where the interests of developing countries may be at risk and opportunities arise. TDP is also enhancing its participation in networks of information exchange, its collaboration with other intergovernmental bodies and civil society organizations working on trade and development issues both in the North and in the South.

The thematic areas of work under this programme include: trade in agricultural goods, trade in services, trade in non-agricultural goods, commodities and economic diversification and cross-cutting issues in the Doha Work Programme.

Key Elements of the Programme

The key components under each thematic area of work include:

• Policy-oriented research and analysis
• Technical assistance and capacity building
• Outreach, Communication and Dissemination Strategy