Rules-based trade system
SECO helps to create favourable framework conditions for international trade. This improves opportunities for businesses in developing countries on foreign markets and boosts their competitiveness.
International trade strengthens global growth and the competitiveness of economies and businesses. This is particularly true in the current context of increasing protectionism. Favourable framework conditions are crucial if opportunities are to be exploited. However, developing and newly industrialising countries often do not have the necessary institutional and technical infrastructure.
The World Trade Organization (WTO) was founded in 1995 to monitor global trade. Since then, however, it has become difficult to reach multilateral agreements. As a result, the number of bilateral and regional agreements has multiplied. Between 1995 and 2024, the number of regional free trade agreements rose from 45 to 371.
Over 50 per cent of goods cross borders as components, often multiple times.
Additionally, international rules for trade cover an increasing number of issues. Negotiations over trade agreements now involve not only tariff reductions, but also technical standards and the liberalisation of markets for services. The protection of intellectual property, the regulation and promotion of digital trade (e-commerce), the reduction of bureaucracy in customs traffic and social, environmental and climate concerns are also becoming more important.
In order to create favourable framework conditions in developing countries, a wide range of actors must work together and continuously improve their expertise in a very complex and challenging trade system.
Knowing the rules
For this reason, SECO supports the further training of national and regional authorities and other decision-makers, particularly in the area of sustainability and inclusion.
Defining and complying with standards
Harmonised technical standards facilitate the trade in goods. Achieving this requires international actors to work closely together and, at the same time, to construct and uphold a functioning system of standards on a national level.
Facilitating trade
SECO supports its partner countries in making cross-border movements of goods easier. To do so, it helps them define and implement efficient and effective customs procedures.
Promoting policy coherence and sustainability
In the interest of policy coherence, SECO promotes sustainable trade agreements that comply with international environmental, climate and labour standards. This approach promotes international trade, while protecting the environment, the climate, workers and biodiversity.