External publications

Forging consensus: navigating trade controversies in the FfD4 Zero Draft

published on blogs.idos-research.de, 04.02.2025

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The role of international trade as a key driver for sustainable development has been a recurring theme since the First International Conference on Financing for Development (FfD) in Monterrey, Mexico in 2022. Building on this established consensus, the “Zero Draft” of the FfD4 Outcome Document emphasizes the transformative potential of international trade in driving sustainable development, particularly for developing countries. Contrary to the trends observed in the early 2000s, the current global landscape is marked by a noticeable shift away from trade liberalization towards the increased use of tariffs and trade restrictions, as well as geopolitical fragmentations. This shift poses significant challenges to open, fair, and predictable multilateral trade, and to the benefits that could be derived from it for development finance.

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