ICTSD is implementing under its Agricultural programme a project which seeks to analyse South–South trade and proposed flexibilities for agricultural ‘Special Projects’, which are regarded as important in advancing the sustainable development goals of food security and rural development. The project entails a research study that brings empirical evidence on South–South trade by providing information on the main developing country exporters and importers, the main products that are traded, and the main trends. It uses this information to identify the importance for South–South trade of the products which appear most likely to be designated as Special Products. Any notable barriers to trade in these products are also flagged. Though the analysis does not identify any ‘magic bullets’, it helps to narrow considerably the main areas of potential contention of Special Products so that they may be resolvable through a limited number of bilateral negotiations.