Fundamental changes are taking place in the technologies and rules that underpin global trade in goods and services. This presents the Commonwealth’s diverse countries with challenges, but also opens up opportunities to expand trade and investment between members and with the rest of the world.
Commonwealth experts help member countries improve their global trade competitiveness. Many Commonwealth countries only have a limited domestic market, so we focus on developing their export capabilities.
There are 18 on-going country projects in: Barbados, Belize, Botswana, Brunei, Cameroon, Grenada, the Gambia, Jamaica, Kenya, Malawi, Lesotho, Seychelles and Sri Lanka. There are also 3 regional projects in The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and The East African Community (EAC).
This Commonwealth-led fund helps small countries import goods at competitive prices. The fund will guarantee loans made by loan providers like local banks, to encourage them to loan money to small and medium businesses.
The Commonwealth carries out research into trade policy to promote the trade and development interests of our members, especially small states and the least-developed countries.
We bring countries together to discuss and agree on new global trade issues. This helps Commonwealth countries be better prepared for bilateral and multilateral trade talks.
The Hub and Spokes program is an innovative initiative that sends trade advisors to government ministries and economic organisations to help boost trade in the Africa, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) group of countries.
Local trade advisers (the ‘spokes’) are sent to help national government trade ministries. Regional trade advisers (the ‘hubs’) are sent to help to major regional organisations.
Implementation of international commercial arbitration mechanisms could significantly strengthen and increase trade in the Commonwealth.
Trade ministers from across the Commonwealth today made a commitment to resist all forms of protectionism, and to work urgently together towards reforming the World Trade Organisation, which sets the global rules for international trade.
Consultations opened today in Lilongwe, Malawi on the design of a new strategy to boost the country’s exports in regional and international markets.
Trade ministers and senior officials from 53 Commonwealth countries will gather in London to explore strategies for deepening trade and investment, while supporting a transparent, inclusive, fair, and open rules-based global trading system.
