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10 Commonwealth policy priorities for trade and development

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Written by Maximiliano Mendez-Parra, Dirk Willem te Velde

The Commonwealth, with its historic links between states, a population of 2.3 billion, a combined economy of more than $10 trillion and annual GDP growth in excess of 4%, is uniquely placed to become a driving force behind global trade for development. 

Ahead of the 2017 meeting of Commonwealth trade ministers, ODI and the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Trade Out of Poverty put forward 10 policy priorities for trade ministers to consider.

Reduce trade costs by implementing the World Trade Organization Trade Facilitation Agreement
Ensure that the benefits of tariff preferences are maximised for developing countries
Increase connectivity to better facilitate trade
Expand trade finance for small and medium sized enterprises
Expand women's participation in trade
Develop skills for trade
Promote green growth through trade
More and better targeted Aid for Trade
Establish a Commonwealth-wide trademark system
Improve trade governance
Maximiliano Mendez-Parra, Stacey Mills-Smith, Tom Pengelly, Hector Santos and Dirk Willem te Velde