Trade can also lead to job losses and a concentration of work in lower skilled employment. Given the complexity and specificity of the relationship between trade and gender it is of upmost importance to assess the potential impact of trade policy on both women and men and to develop appropriate, evidence-based responses and policies to ensure that trade contribute to enhancing opportunities for all.

Research on gender equality and trade has been held back by limited data and a lack of understanding of the connections between the economic roles women play as workers, consumers, and decision makers. Building on new analysis and new sex-disaggregated data, this report aims to advance understanding on the relationship between trade and gender equality and to identify a series of opportunities through which women can gain from trade.