Global trade and open markets

International trade drives economic growth by lowering prices, expanding consumer choices, and enabling access to goods and services that might otherwise be unaffordable or unavailable. It also enhances economic resilience and supply chain diversification.

A transparent, rules-based trading system creates opportunities for all countries by offering the predictability businesses need to invest, innovate, and create jobs.

In the face of recent global shocks, accurate, up-to-date and detailed insights into evolving trade patterns are more important than ever. The OECD’s trade monitoring helps policymakers navigate shifting dynamics and shape more effective, forward-looking trade policies.

Globalisation has reduced poverty and expanded economic opportunities around the world. However, the benefits of trade have not always been shared evenly, and its social, environmental, and economic downsides have raised concerns. To ensure trade delivers broadly and sustainably, it is essential to understand and address these negative impacts. Inclusive trade policies can help rebalance outcomes so that the gains from global trade are distributed more fairly across people, places, and generations.

Transparent trade and subsidy policies are essential for fair competition, efficient resource use, and well-functioning global markets. However, subsidies, now widespread across sectors and economies and varying in form and scale, may distort competition, misallocate resources, and provoke countermeasures if not properly designed or monitored. The OECD works to enhance transparency and improve the design of support measures. By monitoring subsidies with the greatest global impact, OECD analysis helps ensure that government support does not come at the expense of open and fair markets.

Beyond subsidies, the OECD’s broader trade analysis and data tools help strengthen transparency, support multilateral cooperation, inform international policy discussions and legal negotiations, and ensure that trade systems remain open, fair, and predictable. These tools include the Services Trade Restrictiveness Index (STRI), Trade Facilitation Indicators, the Export Restrictions on Industrial Raw Materials Database, the OECD Export Restrictions in Critical Crops data portal (integrated into the Agriculture Market Information System, AMIS), and the OECD Government Support and Subsidies Portal.

The OECD remains a committed partner in advancing rules-based international trade and continues its close collaboration with the WTO and other global stakeholders.