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Women and Trade: How Trade Agreements Can Level the Gender Playing Field

Authored by: Ally Brodsky, Jasmine Lim, William Reinsch

Categories: Human Rights
Sub-Categories: Economic Participation, Human Development, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV)
Region: No Region
Year: 2021
Citation: Brodsky, Ally, Jasmine Lim, William Reinsch. "Women and Trade: How Trade Agreements Can Level the Gender Playing Field." Center for Strategic and International Studies. May 2021.

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Executive Summary

This report first describes the nexus of gender and trade, including existing relevant research and gendered trade barriers, before considering the degree to which four trade agreements, taken as case studies, are gender-responsive (Republic of Korea-United States Free Trade Agreement, Canada-Israel Free Trade Agreement, United States-Mexico-Canada Free Trade Agreement, and the pending WTO E-Commerce Agreement). The report assesses gender responsiveness rather than gender impact, which is an important but separate area of study. The report then draws on interviews with trade experts and negotiators to consider how trade negotiations might impact the inclusion of gender-specific clauses in trade agreements. It concludes with recommendations for trade agreements, trade negotiations, and domestic policy, which directly and indirectly impacts trade.