Globalisation has contributed to a decrease in poverty and an increase in economic opportunities across countries. However, the gains made by trade over the past decade have not always been well distributed and the resulting economic, social, and environmental impacts have been called into question. Understanding and addressing negative environmental and social impacts of trade is important to ensure that trade works for all.

Government intervention should not distort the global level playing field. At present, subsidies are common across all sectors, used at all stages of development, take many forms, and affect all countries, albeit at different scales. 

OECD work focuses on the transparency and design of support measures. It monitors several types of subsidies that have a particularly high impact on the global playing field. impact in particular the global playing field.

The OECD’s work measuring and analysing trade is widely used to inform international discussions between countries and negotiation of legal agreements. 

OECD work on policy transparency helps to inform the smooth functioning of international markets. The data tools used in this work include the Services Trade Restrictiveness Index (STRI), Trade Factilitation Indicators, the Export Restrictions on Industrial Raw Materials Database, the OECD export restrictions in critical crops data portal integrated in the Agriculture Market Information System (AMIS) and the OECD Government Support and Subsidies Portal .

Well-functioning global markets are fundamental for economic growth and wellbeing. The OECD is strongly committed to continuing its engagement with the WTO and to improving transparency in international trade.