Categories

The WTO Aid for Trade Task Force has specified the following six categories (i) Economic Infrastructure: Building the roads, ports, and telecommunications that link domestic and global markets; (ii) Productive capacity: Investing in industries and sectors so countries can diversify exports and build on comparative advantages; (iii) Adjustment Costs: Helping with the costs associated with tariff reductions, preference erosion, or declining terms of trade; (iv) Trade Policy and Regulations: Helping countries to develop trade strategies, negotiate more effectively, and implement outcomes; (v) Trade Development: dealing with support services for business, promoting finance and investment and conducting market analysis; and (vi) Other trade-related needs.

Work Program

A task force established by the WTO in 2006, recommended that a body be set up in the WTO to monitor the implementation of the Aid for Trade initiative coupled with periodic global review of the initiative.

Global Aid for Trade and related activities are planned and carried out in the form of biennial activities. The objective of the work program is to enhance the coordination and coherence among partners and the development committee with the sole aim of achieving results.

Preparations towards the development of the 2020-2021 Aid for Trade Work Program, by the Committee on Trade and Development (CTD) at the WTO, begun in earnest in November 2019. A key consideration for the 2020-2021 Aid for Trade Work Program is the role new technologies can play in aiding micro, small and medium enterprises access finance.

In all, four (4) exercises relating to the monitoring Aid for Trade on three main levels have been completed since 2007. These levels include:

1. OECD global Aid for Trade flows
2. Individual donor contribution toward Aid for Trade related activities
3. Presentation and addressing of developing countries’ needs