Trade
Creating better trade opportunities
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.
Trade competitiveness
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.
Projects
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).
The Small States Trade Finance Facility
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.
Recent publications
International trade policy
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.
Publications from our digital iLibrary
- Commonwealth Trade Review 2018
- Commonwealth Trade Review 2015
- Commonwealth Trade Hot Topics
- Books and Monographs
- International Trade Working Papers
Hub and Spokes Program
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.
Trade Competitiveness Policy Briefs
News
We must leverage the ‘Commonwealth Advantage’ to counter the economic fallout of COVID-19
The world is bracing for a massive hit to the global economy in the wake of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
Major Commonwealth study on international commercial arbitration offers trade-boosting solutions
Implementation of international commercial arbitration mechanisms could significantly strengthen and increase trade in the Commonwealth.
Reform WTO and resist protectionism, say Commonwealth trade ministers
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.
Commonwealth trade ministers to convene in London amid global uncertainties
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.
Consultations to shape new export strategy for Malawi
Consultations opened today in Lilongwe, Malawi on the design of a new strategy to boost the country’s exports in regional and international markets.
