LDC trade, partnerships, trade for development initiatives explored in Development Week

LDC services trade 

At the meeting of the WTO Sub-Committee on LDCs held on 6 July, members looked at the important role domestic reforms can play in unlocking opportunities for LDCs in services trade.

According to the United Nations Trade and Development (UNCTAD) 2025 Least-Developed Countries Report, global services exports from LDCs grew from USD 5.3 trillion in 2020 to USD 8.9 trillion in 2024, but LDCs currently account for only 0.16 per cent of global digitally deliverable services exports. The need to develop the relevant skillset and strengthen productive capacity and digital infrastructure in LDCs was underscored at the meeting.

In an update on the implementation of the Trade in Services for Development (TS4D) initiative, which supports the participation of developing economies and LDCs in services trade, members were informed of the launch in 2025 of the Services Trade Competitiveness Dashboard, the Handbook on Good Regulatory Practices to Facilitate Trade in Services and the TS4D Platform. Reporting on a national TS4D workshop held in Phnom Penh in June 2026, Cambodia and the United Kingdom emphasized the importance of good regulatory practices.

During the experience-sharing session, South Africa and the World Economic Forum shared experiences in implementing the Streamlining Services Initiative, which aims to increase services trade by improving regulatory frameworks and service-sector competitiveness, and identified opportunities in climate finance services across Africa. Strengthening regulatory frameworks and ensuring an enabling business environment for services trade were highlighted as central to expanding regional opportunities under the African Continental Free Trade Area.

A representative from Kwely - a Senegal-based digital platform connecting Made-in-Africa brands with international buyers - noted that limited market intelligence, inadequate packaging capability, certification requirements and restricted access to trade finance are among the main barriers facing African exporters. The importance of public-private collaboration and emerging technologies in strengthening trade expertise and improving opportunities for small and medium-sized enterprises was also emphasized. The Nepal Economic Forum highlighted Nepal's growing services economy, including the contribution of tourism and digitally delivered services.

To further support services-led growth in LDCs, members underscored the importance of improved services data, services-focused Aid-for-Trade initiatives and the operationalization of the LDC Services Waiver, which aims to facilitate preferential market access for LDC services and service suppliers.

Reporting on an experience-sharing session entitled "Navigating a shifting trade landscape: opportunities for LDCs" held in April, the Chair of the LDCs Sub-Committee, Ambassador Ib Petersen of Denmark, noted that advancing WTO reform and advancing discussions on the moratorium on customs duties on electronic transmissions were considered among key priorities for businesses.

Trade for development partnerships

At the Aid-for-Trade session of the Committee on Trade and Development held on 7 July, members discussed partnerships for trade development.

One of the successes highlighted was the ten-year partnership between the Asian Development Bank and Australia, which has helped to unlock over USD 60 billion in trade and supply chain activity, including through support that enabled Samoa to export dried cocoa to Japan.

Australia also highlighted how it is working with the World Bank to help developing economies, including Timor-Leste and other LDCs, implement the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement. A total of AUD 11.2 million (about USD 7.8 million) in sales to Europe were generated for small businesses in Pacific Island countries through a partnership with Pacific Trade Invest Europe.

Members also received an update on the implementation of the WTO Fish Fund. Out of USD 20 million in members' contributions, USD 5 million has been committed to support over 40 developing economies, including LDCs, implement the WTO's Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies. The next call for proposals for project grants is planned for early 2027. Iceland shared its experience in leveraging a sustainable fisheries management system for Iceland's economic development. Iceland is one of the 18 members to have contributed to the Fund and a member of the Fund's Steering Committee.

As part of the Global Review preparations, the Chair congratulated members on putting forward over 20 success stories and 20 sessions for the Review. "One common thread across all stories is how tailor-made, context specific, co-created interventions offer practical solutions to trade challenges of producers, entrepreneurs and exporters in developing economies, including LDCs," he noted. The stories will feature in a joint OECD-WTO "Success stories magazine" to be published during the Review.

Members also examined preliminary findings from the OECD-WTO joint report to be released during the Review. OECD data show that while Aid for Trade disbursements grew by 8 per cent between 2006 and 2015, they only grew by 1 per cent between 2015 and 2024 due to competing priorities for public spending. The role of infrastructure financing, energy transition, digitalization and transport corridors in driving economic growth was emphasized. The importance of safeguarding concessional finance, namely development assistance provided on preferential terms by WTO members and development partners, was highlighted, together with the need to leverage private finance and other resources to meet the growing needs of developing economies. Concessional finance include grants and low-interest loans, particularly for LDCs. In 2024, USD 66 billion was mobilized in private finance.

Discussions brought to the fore that over the past 20 years, developing economies' share in world's merchandise exports expanded from 38 per cent in 2006 to 48 per cent in 2024, while their share of global commercial services increased from one quarter to one third. At the same time, LDCs' share in global trade remains around 1 per cent. It was also noted that the increased knowledge and experience generated over the past 20 years has enabled developing economies - including LDCs - to participate more effectively in the WTO's work.

The Chair also updated members on the experience-sharing session held on 20 April, which looked at ways of leveraging private sector partnerships for trade. He said: "While official development assistance had helped to set the foundations for increased partnerships, other sources of funding and renewed partnership approaches will be necessary to address infrastructure gaps. At the same time, concessional financing remains important for supporting trade policy reforms and creating an enabling environment for trade and investment."  

Trade and development

In the WTO's Committee on Trade and Development meeting on 8 July, members discussed two new proposals, one from Japan on trade as an engine for economic growth, and another from China - co-sponsored by Comoros and Benin - on the integration of trade and investment for industrialization. Future discussions on the proposals will build on members' practices and experiences and related WTO work, such as on Aid for Trade. 

Members considered the latest reporting on special and differential (S&DT) measures by the WTO Secretariat, which will be complemented by an update of S&DT measures across WTO agreements and decisions at the next Committee meeting in October. Members also discussed the WTO Technical Assistance Annual Report 2025 and the Technical Assistance Evaluations Report 2025, highlighting the resilience of technical assistance activities overall.

The Dedicated Session on Small Economies met for the first time since the Work Programme on Small Economies was considered at the 14th Ministerial Conference (MC14) held in March. A dedicated session was organized in the Committee on Trade Facilitation to discuss the specific vulnerabilities of small economies, such as those related to trade logistics and traceability. Discussions on digital trade in the context of the Work Programme were initiated. 

In the dedicated sessions on preferential trade arrangements and regional trade agreements held on 8 July, members were updated on the status of factual presentations under preparation by the WTO Secretariat. These presentations are used to facilitate the consideration of regional trade agreements and preferential trade arrangements notified by WTO members.

Next meeting

The next Development Week is expected to take place from 26 to 30 October 2026.