Leading clothing brands have made massive profits while using US trade tariffs as an excuse for exploiting the people who work for them. Read some figures here.
women’s rights
On tariffs, women workers and how trade narratives invisibilize the most vulnerable
New US trade tariffs are framed as being directed to countries. But what about the millions of people, and particularly the women, in the countries who depend on exports for their livelihoods?
How can WTO talks on e-commerce benefit women? If only we knew
E-commerce is touted as offering new and advantageous opportunities for women. But what do WTO e-commerce negotiations really hold for women’s rights?...
Gender provisions in trade agreements: opportunities for the few or protection for the many?
As gender-related provisions in trade agreements become more frequent, we ask how well-suited they are to achieving gender equality objectives. We suggest that CEDAW offers a metric against which to measure their effectiveness.
Improving consistency between trade and human rights
States tend to ratify new trade agreements with little heed for their human rights obligations. Impact assessment can help ensure consistency between these two bodies of law.
Dr Okonjo-Iweala’s Hard Gender Challenge
The appointment of the first woman WTO Director-General sends a strong signal that equality between men and women can be achieved. But to truly empower women, WTO leadership must address how trade can entrench or reduce structural gender imbalances in the economy.