A re-burgeoning of interest in the gender dimensions of trade is currently sweeping the international trade and development landscape, as witnessed by a 2017 WTO declaration on women and trade, new ‘gender chapters’ in trade agreements and aspirations of ‘gender responsive’ trade policy in countries such as the UK. However, feminist economists of trade and advocates are concerned about the direction of these changes and the limited framing of the debate in terms of women entrepreneurs and transnational business feminism which ignores inequalities between and within countries and intersecting oppressions. Moreover, much economic policymaking continues to prioritise export-led economic development without adequately attending to and mitigating rising income inequalities, environmental degradation, and persistent gendered and racialised inequalities that must be addressed in relation to trade.
This GTC event at the 28th International Association for Feminist Economics Annual Conference in Glasgow, Scotland on 27 June 2019 brings together feminist economists interested in trade, advocacy partners and policymakers as part of a panel discussion and strategising session on the state of gender and trade debates in multilateral fora and the challenges and opportunities for international solidarities. The discussion brings together speakers and participants from within and beyond feminist economics and aims to share knowledge and propose key directions for gender and trade research that can engage with, support and help shape advocacy and policy actions. Panellists include:
- Edme Dominguez, University of Gottemburg;
- Marzia Fontana (Institute of Development Studies);
- Rachel Noble (ActionAid UK);
- Crystal Simeoni (African Women's Development and Communications Network); and
- Mariama Williams (South Centre & Gender and Trade Coalition).
Convenors
