The World Trade Organization (WTO), the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), and the International Trade Centre (ITC) have developed an online portal that collates progress on trade-related SDGs.
The SDG Trade Monitor was launched at WTO headquarters on World Statistics Day on 20 October.
The portal aims to improve users’ understanding of the relationship between trade and sustainable development by enabling customized analysis of the trade-related SDG indicators and highlighting the latest progress in achieving the relevant SDG targets.
Speaking at the launch event, WTO Deputy Director-General Yonov Frederick Agah emphasized the role of trade as “an engine for economic growth” that “has unlocked massive poverty reduction gains and socio-economic development across the globe, particularly in developing countries.” He said the multi-agency collaboration proves that “multilateral efforts in trade are possible and worthwhile.”
UNCTAD Deputy Secretary-General Isabelle Durant described the SDG Trade Monitor as a “one-stop-shop” where users can “obtain the most updated, official figures of trade-related SDG indicators.”
ITC Executive Director Pamela Coke-Hamilton identified trade as “one of the most crucial means of implementing the SDGs.”
The SDG Trade Monitor gathers data on:
- SDG target 2.b, on correcting and preventing trade restrictions and distortions in world agricultural markets;
- SDG target 8.a, on increasing Aid for Trade support for developing countries, in particular least developed countries (LDCs);
- SDG target 10.a, on implementing the principle of special and differential treatment for developing countries and LDCs;
- SDG target 17.10, on promoting a universal, rules-based, open, non-discriminatory, and equitable multilateral trading system (MTS);
- SDG target 17.11, on increasing the exports of developing countries and LDCs; and
- SDG target 17.12, on implementing long-term, duty-free, and quota-free market access for all LDCs.