Making Trade More Inclusive: Gender Equality in Trade Policy

Trade can create economic opportunities, but its benefits are not always distributed equitably. Inclusive and gender-responsive trade policy seeks to address these imbalances by considering how trade rules and outcomes affect women, Indigenous Peoples, small and medium-sized enterprises, and other underrepresented groups. In this episode, Dr. Judit Fabian, visiting researcher at the Graduate School of Public and International Affairs at the University of Ottawa, fellow of the Canadian Global Affairs Institute, and founding member of the World Trade Organization Gender Research Hub, examines Canada’s experience incorporating gender equality into trade policy. Her intervention outlines several policy tools, including Gender-based Analysis Plus, dedicated gender chapters and provisions in trade agreements, and the gradual use of soft-law approaches to introduce, test, and strengthen inclusive trade measures. She also reflects on Canada’s longer-term policy development in this area and the importance of maintaining progress across changes in government. The episode also looks at regional mechanisms that support cooperation on trade and gender, including the Global Trade and Gender Arrangement and the Americas Partnership for Economic Prosperity. These examples demonstrate how collaboration across countries and policy forums can contribute to trade systems that are more inclusive, sustainable, and responsive to inequality. This episode was recorded during the 22nd ParlAmericas Plenary Assembly and 10th Gathering of the Open Parliament Network, titled “Parliamentary Leadership for Shared Prosperity: Advancing Trade, Innovation, and Security in a Changing World,” held in Ottawa, Canada, from May 19 to 22, 2026. Please find the meeting content available at the following link.