What Does The European Experience Tell Us On Aid For Trade?

Abstract

Since the launch of the aid-for-trade (AfT) initiative at the World Trade Organization (WTO) Ministerial Conference in Hong Kong in December 2005, the debate on the developing countries need for support to benefit from trade(-related) reforms and liberalisation has attracted much attention and generated several new policy initiatives. Yet, development assistance for trade matters is nothing new.1 Experience by multilateral agencies, as well as regional and bilateral donors can prove most useful in better understanding what has worked and what has been less effective.2 In this regard, the experience of the European Union (EU), as the largest donor in the world and a main provider of aid for trade, is of great interest.