Our Briefing Papers provide a unique analysis of various elements of trade policy in the post-Brexit era.
Briefing Paper 84 - Trade and illegal labour: a new paradigm?Our animated videos help to explain the effects of trade policy. This video explains direct and indirect ways of trading services internationally, and looks at the implications for trade policy, particularly trade agreements.
For more trade explainers, visit our animations page.
Charlotte Humma November 25th, 2016
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Share this article: BRIEFING PAPER 84 – OCTOBER 2024 ERIKA SZYSZCZAK Key points Introduction Forced Labour Regulation The corporate sustainability due diligence directive Paradigm shift: blurring the state/public duty to protect rights and private responsibility Complementary Approaches Conclusion Footnotes KEY POINTS Two EU measures, the Forced Labour Regulation (FLR) and the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD) focus on how goods and services enter global supply chains. These measures complement established human rights and criminal responsibility norms in tackling the use of illegal labour in supply chains. The FLR and CSDDD are part of the EU Open Strategic Autonomy (OSA) and aim to identify risks and protect the integrity of supply chains. The measures are a mix of EU trade considerations and EU fundamental rights values. The FLR and CSDDD create new legal obligations, new processes, and new remedies to combat the use of illegal labour in supply chains. The… Read More
Charlotte Humma October 14th, 2024
Posted In: Uncategorised
Share this article: 04 October 2024 – Peter Holmes is a Fellow of the UK Trade Policy Observatory and Emeritus Reader in Economics at the University of Sussex Business School. The 2024 World Trade Organization (WTO) Public Forum was sure to be a fascinating occasion given the interest in the topic, inclusivity and green trade, and the stellar cast of speakers. But what of the future of the WTO itself? Many observers have come to feel that with the negotiating function and the Appellate Body (AB) both log-jammed, there wasn’t much for the WTO to do apart from hosting events like the Public Forum. Despite the logjam in negotiations and the apparent death (certainly more than a very deep sleep) of the Appellate Body, the WTO is still delivering value to its members in its routine committee work. It continues to promote transparency etc, and Dispute Settlement Panels still operate,… Read More
Jessie Madrigal-Fletcher October 4th, 2024
Posted In: UK - Non EU, UK- EU
Tags: WTO
Share this article: 27 September 2024 – Ana Peres is a Lecturer in Law at the University of Sussex and a member of the UKTPO. Lawyers, economists and political scientists are increasingly using a new term to frame discussions on current trade relations and policies: geoeconomics. This means that countries are intervening in strategic economic sectors not primarily for profit but to ensure autonomy, build resilient supply chains and secure access to valuable capabilities. Such approach contrasts with the ideals of free trade, market access and interdependence that shaped international trade for decades. These traditional ideals, even when supported by a so-called ‘rules-based system’, always posed challenges for developing countries to meet their objectives. So, what does geoeconomics mean for developing countries? Unfortunately, it threatens to sideline them even more. Consider one of the main areas where geoeconomic strategies are at play: the development of clean technologies. Governments are implementing… Read More
Jessie Madrigal-Fletcher September 27th, 2024
Posted In: UK - Non EU, UK- EU
Tags: Geoeconomics, WTO
