Inclusive trade and persons with disabilities

Abstract

Current debates on inclusive trade pay limited attention to how trade policies can be designed and implemented to reduce barriers affecting persons with disabilities. This report contributes to a disability inclusive trade policy agenda by building an analytical framework that illustrates the multiple channels through which greater trade integration impacts persons with disabilities, and by developing a definition of disability inclusive trade that can be operationalized. The report combines this analytical framework with insights from selected projects in low and middle-income countries to offer recommendations for how Aid for Trade interventions can ensure that trade supports the realization of the economic rights of persons with disabilities. To this end, the report highlights the relevance of policies for not only improving working conditions in trade-related occupations where persons with disabilities already work, but also creating better employment opportunities in higher value-added segments of global value chains. The report notes that trade policies must also aim to improve the affordability and quality of food, medicines and assistive technology products, and be formulated to promote equitable access to care services, roads, transport and ICT infrastructure for persons with disabilities. Effective policy coordination is important since all these dimensions are interrelated. Report prepared for the Sustainable Trade Unit (KPO-30) of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finlan