Aid-for-trade supports developing and least developed countries (LDCs) to use trade as a tool for sustainable economic development. It is an important part of the development pathways of these countries, helping to promote future economic sustainability, diversification, and global economic integration.

Aid-for-trade assists developing countries and LDCs to address challenges related to supply-side constraints, as well as obstacles to hard and soft economic infrastructure development, and improves access to regional and global markets.

Aid-for-trade also supports developing countries and LDCs to effectively participate in and benefit from the multilateral, rules-based trading system – with the WTO at its core; and the WTO provides a common, transparent, and predictable set of rules upon which to base economic development through trade.

The WTO-led Aid for Trade Initiative was launched at the 2005 Hong Kong World Trade Organization (WTO) Ministerial Conference (MC6). It recognises the importance of trade in driving economic growth and the need to assist developing countries and LDCs to improve their capacity to trade.

The Aid-for-Trade Initiative highlights the role trade can play in development and establishes a regular monitoring and evaluation exercise through the biannual Global Review of Aid-for-Trade. The Global Review takes stock of the global state of aid-for-trade and helps catalyse further funding.

Australia's Aid-for-Trade

The goal of Australia's aid-for-trade is to support developing countries and LDCs to effectively use trade as a tool for sustainable, inclusive, and locally-led economic growth.

Australian aid-for-trade is wide ranging, demand drive, and delivered through multilateral, regional and bilateral programs and partnerships.

In line with Australia’s International Development Policy, Australia’s aid-for-trade prioritises development impact, gender equality, and sustainability.