Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how much funding the UK has provided to the World Trade Organisation’s Aid for Trade programme in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office has funded the Aid for Trade initiative at the World Trade Organisation (WTO) for many years, supporting least developed and developing countries to break down barriers to trade and promote economic prosperity. Whilst there isn't a specific WTO aid-for-trade programme - it is a biennial work programme setting out thematic workshops - there are various WTO based funds; most of which the UK has funded. The main Aid for Trade funds at the WTO are: the Enhanced Integrated Framework (EIF), the Standards and Trade Development Facility (STDF), the Doha Development Agenda Trust Fund (DDATF) and the Trade Facilitation Agreement Facility (TFAF). Over the last 5 years the UK has provided approximately £17 million across three different funds.

2016 - £3.5 million

2017 - £3.25 million

2018 - £3.12 million

2019 - £4.25 million

2020 - £2.7 million

Our comprehensive Aid for Trade programmes support critical trade infrastructure like ports and roads; tackle burdensome regulations, high transport costs and delays at customs; and build trade skills so that partner countries are better able to take advantage of trading opportunities and enhance their capacity to negotiate and implement trade agreements. Our Aid for Trade portfolio will continue to deliver the critical support necessary for developing and least developed countries to harness their trading opportunities and take ownership of their overall economic development.