Trade and gender group discusses implementation of 2025-2026 Work Plan

The Work Plan 2025-2026 of the Informal Working Group on Trade and Gender (IWG (INF/TGE/W/10/REV1) seeks to translate members' shared commitments to gender equality in trade into actions. The co-chairs recalled that the new Work Plan builds on the strong foundation laid since the establishment of the group in 2020, and reflects the momentum gained after MC12 and MC13.

The implementation roadmap outlines concrete deliverables with regard to the 14th WTO Ministerial Conference (MC14) to be held in March 2026 in Cameroon. The document also sets out delivery steps and timelines for the IWG's objective of mainstreaming gender in the WTO's work, as well as for strengthening government officials' technical skills on gender-disaggregated data in trade. A further focus is placed on thematic research and collaboration in areas such as regional trade agreements, intellectual property and women's trade networks.

During the meeting, participants discussed preparations for MC14, including the drafting of the co-chairs' joint statement, the creation of a compendium mapping the work on gender-responsive trade policymaking undertaken by the IWG since 2020, and a joint event with the Informal Working Group on Micro, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises.

The IWG welcomed the new co-chair Ambassador James Baxter of Australia, who replaces Ambassador Simon Manley of the United Kingdom following the end of his period of work in Geneva. Ambassador Clara Delgado of Cabo Verde and Ambassador Patricia Benedetti of El Salvador remain as co-chairs.

Updates by WTO members  

The Republic of Korea presented its "Second Basic Plan for Facilitating Activities of Female-Owned Businesses (2025-2029)", focusing on promoting women's participation in new technology and high-growth sectors, as well as supporting women start-ups. The new framework will also help scale up women-owned businesses, foster a women-friendly business environment, and strengthen institutional and infrastructure foundations for women entrepreneurs. A dedicated growth fund of approximately USD 59 million will be established to provide financing solutions, and early-stage entrepreneurs will be supported in reaching international markets through sector-specific partnerships.

China shared updates on its upcoming Global Women's Summit, to be held in Beijing in October, and the release of a new white paper titled "China's Achievements in Women's Well-Rounded Development in the New Era". China's efforts to promote women's employment and entrepreneurship include legal and institutional guarantees, coordinated policy across sectors -particularly in the digital economy and technological innovation - and international cooperation initiatives, including support for women's integration into sustainable agriculture value chains.

WEIDE Fund

Mongolia provided an update on the launch of the Women Exporters in the Digital Economy (WEIDE) Fund as one of the four pilot countries alongside Jordan, Nigeria and the Dominican Republic. Implemented in partnership with the Mongolian National Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the initiative received 307 applications, with 46 women-led micro, small and medium-sized enterprises selected. Under the 12-month support programme, participants benefit from training, mentorship and access to digital tools to strengthen export readiness, business resilience and financial literacy.

Nigeria also shared its experience as a pilot country for the WEIDE Fund. The initiative is being implemented in partnership with the Nigerian Export Promotion Council, which led a nationwide campaign that received over 68,000 applications. A total of 146 women-led businesses were selected - 129 under the Discovery Grant (USD 5,000) and 17 under the Booster Grant (up to USD 30,000). In addition to financial support, the 12-month programme offers mentorship, training and access to networks to help participants strengthen digital skills, e-commerce capabilities and global market access. Nigeria emphasized that the Fund stands as a demonstration of how trade can serve as a catalyst for gender equality and inclusive economic growth.

Presentations by international organizations 

The World Customs Organization (WCO) presented its work to promote gender equality and diversity across its 186 member customs administrations. These efforts are pursued both internally - through how customs administrations operate - and externally, by making customs services more inclusive and responsive to the needs of diverse stakeholders.

The WCO began its work on gender equality and diversity in 2013 with the launch of the Women in Customs, Trade and Leadership Conference. One of its key tools is the Gender Equality Organizational Assessment Tool, which helps customs administrations assess and improve both internal operations and external service delivery from a gender perspective. The WCO also provides capacity-building support through training and stakeholder engagement workshops, including those connecting customs with small-scale women traders. In its new strategic plan (2025-2028), the WCO has integrated inclusiveness as a core organizational value, recognizing its importance as a cross-cutting issue for the organization.

Members also heard from the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) on its "Trade and Gender Review of Latin America", covering Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Mexico and Peru. The review found that women are less likely than men to work in export-dependent jobs. The study also showed that only 10% of women-led firms export, compared to 14% of men-led firms. About 40% of this gap is explained by the smaller size of women-led firms, and just under a quarter by their concentration in less-traded sectors like health and education.

Around one-third of the gap potentially reflects barriers such as unpaid care work and limited access to business networks. The OECD called for policies to lower these barriers, pointing to opportunities such as expanding gender provisions in trade agreements and improving trade facilitation, especially automation at borders.

United Nations Trade and Development (UNCTAD) presented its recent research on "Breaking Down Barriers for Women Digital Entrepreneurs", with a focus on Africa. Based on data from 94 entrepreneurs across 33 developing countries, the study explores the challenges facing women-led firms in digital sectors such as e-commerce, fintech, agritech and healthtech. While many of these businesses are creating jobs and driving local digital innovation, their export reach remains limited.

Key barriers include lack of access to finance, regulatory and cross-border payment challenges, and limited access to mentorship and networks. Gender norms and care responsibilities further constrain growth, especially in sub-Saharan Africa. UNCTAD called for targeted policy action to expand women's participation in digital trade, improve access to capital, strengthen leadership opportunities and enhance partnerships.