By Pınar Yardımcı
In recent years, redesigning economic growth to reduce pressures on ecosystems has become central to sustainable development policies. The circular economy (CE) has emerged as a vital framework that not only aims to minimize waste and optimize resource efficiency but also promises to decouple economic growth from environmental degradation.
Continue reading “Green Trade Barriers? Circular Economy, Trade, and the Future of the Global South”
By Jan Orbie, Antonio Salvador Alcazar III and Tinus Sioen
The notions of ‘developing countries’ and ‘development cooperation’ have been waning in discourses by scholars, policymakers and civil society actors. At least rhetorically, the colonial and patronising nature of these notions has been recognised at the European Union (EU) level. For instance, the Development Commissioner has been rechristened as the ‘Commissioner of International Partnerships’ since 2019. In recent years, the EU has pursued plenty of ‘partnerships’ in areas such as climate, energy, trade and deforestation.
Continue reading “Trading with the ‘Jungle’: The European Union’s Generalised Scheme of Preferences”
By Frederik Stender and Tim Vogel / Part of the European Development Policy Outlook Series
Trade liberalisation, traditionally seen as a means to promote economic growth and prosperity, has increasingly come under scrutiny for its wider adverse impacts. Increased trade is now also held responsible for environmental degradation, fuelling climate change, and growing inequality, both between high-income countries and developing countries and within the latter. Issues such as child labour remain significant and unresolved, further highlighting the complex challenges associated with global trade practices.
Continue reading “Complex Coherence: Unpacking the EU’s Trade and Development Policy Dilemma”
By Bernhard Tröster, Felix Maile, Cornelia Staritz and Sophie van Huellen
In 2021, Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire introduced a $400/tonnes Living Income Differential (LID) on cocoa bean exports, widely regarded as a key mechanism to improve the livelihoods of cocoa farmers. However, this premium was dwarfed by recent price surges at the global derivative markets, which serve as a benchmark for the sales of West African cocoa beans. Yet, farmers have seen a relatively minor increase in the price they receive.
Continue reading “Cocoa Prices Triple, But Do Farmers Feel the Gains?”
By Werner Raza
