The WTO report contains an analysis of the trade performance of developing countries. It also discusses the impact of the conflict in Ukraine and looks into trade topics related to the SDGs.

Five Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) will be under consideration at the 2022 HLPF, which will take place from 5 July to 7 July and from 11 July to 15 July:

• Goal 4 on education
• Goal 5 on gender equality and women's empowerment
• Goal 14 on life below water
• Goal 15 on life on land
• Goal 17 on partnerships for the goals

The forum is organized annually under the auspices of the UN's Department for Economic and Social Affairs. This year's programme can be found here.

In its report to the 2022 HLPF, the WTO emphasizes the contribution of trade to improving people's livelihoods and achieving the five SDGs under review.

On SDGs 4 and 5, the report notes the essential role played by cooperation and dialogue among international institutions and relevant stakeholders. In particular, it looks at how this cooperation has supported domestic policies aimed at increasing online education and supporting the inclusion of women in trade.

On SDGs 14 and 15, the report highlights that WTO rules provide space for accommodating environmental concerns, such as measures aimed at protecting life below water and on land, in trade policy considerations. At the WTO, negotiations are under way, the report underlines, on curbing harmful fisheries subsidies while groups of members are discussing three new environmental initiatives: (i) Trade and Environmental Sustainability Structured Discussions (TESSD), (ii) Informal Dialogue on Plastics Pollution and Environmentally Sustainable Plastics Trade (IDP) and (iii) Fossil Fuel Subsidy Reform (FFSR).

On SDG 17, the report stresses that the WTO works in partnership with other organizations through initiatives such as Aid for Trade, the Standards and Trade Development Facility (STDF), the Trade Facilitation Agreement Facility (TFAF), the Enhanced Integrated Framework (EIF) and the SDG Trade Monitor. It also covers cooperation with the World Bank, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Health Organization on issues such as climate change and access to COVID-19 vaccines.

The WTO's report can be found here.

More information on the WTO and the SDGs can be found here.

Previous WTO reports to the HLPF

• 2022
• 2021
• 2020
• 2019
• 2018
• 2017
• 2016

Background

UN members adopted, in 2016, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which contains the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). These SDGs reflect the understanding that development is closely linked with economic growth, social well-being and environmental sustainability and that the SDGs offer the most effective and flexible way to address conflict, human rights issues, poverty and inequality as well as climate change and environmental degradation around the world.

The UN recognises that trade is an engine for inclusive economic growth and poverty reduction that contributes to sustainable development. International trade accounts for over 50 per cent of low-income countries' GDP and is an important source of income for both the private and public sector in developing countries.

Trade enhances a country’s income-generating capacity, an essential prerequisite for achieving sustainable development.