Trade and Gender Group Launches New Edition of Equality Prize and Begins Consultations for Future Work.
By Raymond Enoch
At a meeting held on 27 February, members of the Informal Working Group on Trade and Gender (IWG) discussed exciting developments for the future of gender-responsive trade. Co-chaired by Ambassador Clara Delgado of Cabo Verde, Ambassador Patricia Benedetti of El Salvador, and Ambassador Simon Manley of the United Kingdom, the meeting focused on the Group’s work plan for 2025-26 and potential outcomes for the 14th Ministerial Conference (MC14) in March 2026.
The co-chairs opened the meeting by reflecting on key achievements from 2024. These included the inclusion of specific wording on trade and gender in the Abu Dhabi Ministerial Declaration WT/MIN(24)/DEC, the introduction of a new trade policy tool supporting financial inclusion for women entrepreneurs, and progress in fostering discussions on gender-responsive trade policy-making. Additionally, gender issues have been increasingly integrated into the work of various WTO bodies, including the Informal Working Group on Micro, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSMEs).
The co-chairs launched consultations to shape the IWG’s 2025-26 work plan, with a focus on identifying possible outcomes for the upcoming MC14. These consultations aim to ensure that gender equality remains a central consideration in the WTO’s future trade discussions.
One of the significant announcements at the meeting was the launch of the second edition of the International Prize for Gender Equality in Trade.
This initiative aims to recognize and celebrate the most impactful gender-responsive trade policies implemented by WTO members and observer governments. With the call for applications now open, the prize seeks to support and promote inclusive trade efforts within the global trade community.
The meeting also included presentations from various member countries and organizations, highlighting efforts to mainstream gender equality in trade:
The United Kingdom shared its work on integrating gender equality into free trade agreements (FTAs), citing the UK-New Zealand FTA and the UK-Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement as key examples. The UK emphasized the importance of collecting gender-disaggregated data and monitoring the impact of trade agreements on women. It also highlighted the need for institutional mechanisms to facilitate cooperation with stakeholders such as trade associations and women entrepreneurs.
Australia introduced its “International Gender Equality Strategy for a Safer and More Prosperous Indo-Pacific and the World.” Developed following consultations with over 600 stakeholders, this strategy aims to support gender equality commitments in trade at the WTO and other international and regional organizations.
Mexico reported on a recent capacity-building workshop on trade and gender organized by the Global Trade and Gender Arrangement (GTAGA) in collaboration with the WTO Secretariat. The workshop, which brought together experts, government representatives, academics, and women entrepreneurs, focused on the challenges and opportunities in mainstreaming gender in global trade.
The International Trade Centre (ITC) provided an update on the Women Exporters in the Digital Economy (WEIDE) Fund, a WTO-ITC initiative launched at MC13. The Fund offers grants and technical assistance to support export growth in women-led businesses, with a call for applications set for September 2024.
The WTO Secretariat highlighted its ongoing training programs, collaborative research projects, and outreach initiatives. The Secretariat has made significant progress in capacity-building with organizations such as the Latin American Integration Association, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), and various universities. A thematic course on trade, gender, and agriculture, developed in collaboration with the FAO, will be launched in 2025 as a follow-up to the WTO-FAO Memorandum of Understanding signed in 2024.
The Trade and Gender Office also underscored its work with the Secretariat of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW). This collaboration focuses on drafting General Recommendation No. 40, which addresses women’s access to decision-making positions.
The discussions and initiatives presented at the meeting highlight the growing importance of integrating gender considerations into global trade policies. As the Trade and Gender Group moves forward with its consultations and the launch of the second edition of the International Prize for Gender Equality in Trade, it is clear that gender equality will continue to be a central focus of international trade efforts.
The upcoming 2025-26 work plan and the outcomes from the MC14 are expected to build on these efforts, ensuring that trade policies foster inclusive growth and provide equal opportunities for all.
