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With research staff from more than 60 countries, and offices across the globe, IFPRI provides research-based policy solutions to sustainably reduce poverty and end hunger and malnutrition in developing countries.

researcher spotlight

Manuel Hernandez

Manuel Hernandez is a Senior Research Fellow in the Markets, Trade, and Institutions Unit of IFPRI. He has more than 20 years of experience in diverse projects in Latin America, Africa, and Asia on development issues related to agricultural and labor markets, food security and nutrition, industrial organization and regulation, price analysis, and the informal economy. His current research focuses on impact evaluation linked to rural development and food security projects, migration, functioning of oligopoly markets and value chains, and price volatility.

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Since 1975, IFPRI’s research has been informing policies and development programs to improve food security, nutrition, and livelihoods around the world.

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IFPRI currently has more than 600 employees working in over 80 countries with a wide range of local, national, and international partners.

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TOPIC

Trade

In today’s global economy, international agricultural trade plays an increasingly important role in ensuring food security. But domestic and international policies as well as administrative restrictions can hinder trade flows between domestic and foreign markets and producers. Policies to achieve domestic objectives in one country can affect trade flows in ways that lead to indirect effects in other countries.

IFPRI’s research informs the design of domestic and international trade policies in developing countries, as well as regional and global negotiations to promote an inclusive and efficient international trade system. This includes work on the impact of tariffs, quotas, and nontariff barriers as well as market-distorting food safety and environmental regulations, export bans aimed at food security, and agricultural support payments.

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IFPRI partners with institutions to strengthen developing countries’ capacities to do their own research and independently develop long-term, sustainable trade policies that help to eradicate poverty and support food security. To support rapid responses to market disruptions, IFPRI maintains the Food Security Portal, which provides early warning on international price changes and restrictive trade policies.

IFPRI’s research on this topic is closely aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including SDG1, SDG2, SDG16, and SDG17, and contributes to the CGIAR Impact Areas on Nutrition, Health, and Food Security and Poverty Reduction, Livelihoods, and Jobs.

trade

topics

Publications

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Working Paper

Does trade with multinationals induce greener production? Evidence from the Bangladesh fashion industry

2025Iqbal, Kazi; Mahzab, Moogdho; Motohashi, Kazuki; Takayama, Haruka
Details

Does trade with multinationals induce greener production? Evidence from the Bangladesh fashion industry

This working paper examines the impact of trading with global fashion brands on the environmental performance of suppliers in Bangladesh. The study finds that an increase in the number of exporters to brand multinationals improves the river water quality surrounding these exporters, highlighting the crucial role multinational buyers play in mitigating industrial pollution. JEL Classification: F18, F64, O13, Q56

Year published

2025

Authors

Iqbal, Kazi; Mahzab, Moogdho; Motohashi, Kazuki; Takayama, Haruka

Citation

Iqbal, Kazi; Mahzab, Moogdho; Motohashi, Kazuki; and Takayama, Haruka. 2025. Does trade with multinationals induce greener production? Evidence from the Bangladesh fashion industry. IGC Working Paper XXX-22184. London: International Growth Centre. https://www.theigc.org/publications/does-trade-multinationals-induce-greener-production-evidence-bangladesh-fashion

Country/Region

Bangladesh

Keywords

Asia; Southern Asia; Fashion; Production; Trade; Water Quality

Language

English

Access/Licence

Open Access

Source

Source record

Record type

Working Paper

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Report

Synthesis report: Agricultural transformation and market integration in the ASEAN region: Responding to food security and inclusiveness concerns

2025Roy, Devesh; Kamar, Abul; Pradhan, Mamata; Saroj, Sunil
Details

Synthesis report: Agricultural transformation and market integration in the ASEAN region: Responding to food security and inclusiveness concerns

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is a regional grouping of Southeast Asian countries formed in 1967 by Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand. Brunei Darussalam joined this association in 1984. ASEAN expanded to 10 countries between 1995 and 1999 by extending memberships to Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, and Viet Nam. These 10 Southeast Asian countries entered into the trade agreement to ensure the free flow of goods, including agricultural products. Agreements related to services and investment were also signed to enhance economic cooperation and to develop an ASEAN Economic Community (AEC). The implementation of the ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA) in 2003 helped liberalize the intra-ASEAN agricultural trade, which grew steadily during the period under review. Further, the dynamics of intra ASEAN trade show that after the food price crisis of 2007/2008, intra-ASEAN agricultural trade increased sharply, which reflects ASEAN’s efforts to create a food security action plan aimed at improving sustainable food trade among ASEAN members.

Year published

2025

Authors

Roy, Devesh; Kamar, Abul; Pradhan, Mamata; Saroj, Sunil

Citation

Roy, Devesh; Kamar, Abul; Pradhan, Mamata; and Saroj, Sunil. 2025. Synthesis report: Agricultural transformation and market integration in the ASEAN region: Responding to food security and inclusiveness concerns. New Delhi, India: International Food Policy Research Institute. https://hdl.handle.net/10568/170266

Country/Region

Philippines; Singapore

Keywords

Asia; South-eastern Asia; Agriculture; Food Security; Trade; Economic Aspects; Prices

Language

English

Access/Licence

Open Access

Source

Source record

Project

Policies, Institutions, and Markets

Record type

Report

Resource thumbnail

Report

Farmers brace for a new round of trade wars

2025Glauber, Joseph W.
Details

Farmers brace for a new round of trade wars

As President-elect Donald Trump prepares to take up residence at the White House for the second time, US farmers nervously await what is in store for the agricultural sector, particularly in trade. In 2018 and 2019, US agriculture suffered from collateral damage during the previous Trump administration as the president’s unilateral actions on trade against foreign suppliers of US imports had serious repercussions for US agricultural exports.

Year published

2025

Authors

Glauber, Joseph W.

Citation

Glauber, Joseph W. 2025. Farmers brace for a new round of trade wars. Washington, DC: American Enterprise Institute (AEI). https://www.aei.org/research-products/report/farmers-brace-for-a-new-round-of-trade-wars/

Country/Region

United States

Keywords

Americas; Northern America; Agriculture; Farmers; Tariffs; Trade

Language

English

Access/Licence

Open Access

Source

Source record

Project

Fruit and Vegetables for Sustainable Healthy Diets

Record type

Report

Blogs

Impact of proposed U.S. tariffs on agricultural trade flows in the Western Hemisphere
IFPRI Blog
 | 
March 04, 2025

Impact of proposed U.S. tariffs on agricultural trade flows in the Western Hemisphere

By Joseph Glauber, Valeria Piñeiro, and Juan Pablo Gianatiempo

Modeling tracks potential disruptions.

How countries have coped with recent agricultural trade disruptions
IFPRI Blog
 | 
February 26, 2025

How countries have coped with recent agricultural trade disruptions

By Abdullah Mamun and Joseph Glauber

Lessons from IFPRI research.

The ECOWAS breakup: Implications for West African food security and regional cooperation
IFPRI Blog
 | 
January 28, 2025

The ECOWAS breakup: Implications for West African food security and regional cooperation

By Danielle Resnick

Facing the “Sahelexit.”

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Events

Trade disruptions and their impacts on agricultural markets: Looking back and ahead
IFPRI Policy Seminar

 | 

January 13, 2025, 9:30 – 11:00 am

Trade disruptions and their impacts on agricultural markets: Looking back and ahead

Global agricultural markets have been in a constant state of uproar over the past 5 years. Trade wars between major trading nations such as China, US and Australia, supply chain disruptions due to the pandemic, Russia’s war in Ukraine, crisis in the Middle East and export restrictions have diverted supplies, altered trading patterns, increased price volatility […]

WTO Annual Agriculture Symposium 2024
IFPRI at External Event

 | 

December 9, 2024, 10:00 – 7:00 pm

WTO Annual Agriculture Symposium 2024

The livestream will be available HERE on December 9, 2024 from 10:00am to 7:00pm (CET) / 4:00am to 1:00pm (EST). This year’s Annual Agriculture Symposium aims to explore the critical intersections between global trade policies, food systems, and nutrition outcomes. In a world where international trade has the potential to both alleviate and exacerbate malnutrition, […]

Navigating the Trade Landscape: A Latin American Perspective building on the WTO 13th Ministerial Conference
IFPRI at External Event

 | 

September 10, 2024, 1:30 – 2:30 pm

Navigating the Trade Landscape: A Latin American Perspective building on the WTO 13th Ministerial Conference

The governance of agricultural and food trade is facing unprecedented challenges in a rapidly evolving global landscape. As traditional agricultural trade issues, such as domestic support and market access, seem to lose their prominence and the feasibility of advancing with a multilateral strategy diminishes, the focus is shifting toward the environmental and nutritional dimensions of […]

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News

September 03, 2024 | Press Release

Ruth Hill joins IFPRI as the new Director of the Markets, Trade, and Institutions Unit

Ruth Hill joins IFPRI as the new Director of its Markets, Trade, and Institutions (MTI) Unit, starting September 3, 2024. 

August 29, 2024 | Press Release

Trade can support climate change mitigation and adaptation in Africa’s agricultural sector, new data shows

New report analyzes trade performance amid pressure points from climate change, water use, and carbon emissions, with recommendations for sustainable practices.

September 06, 2023 | In the News

Unpacking the 2023 Africa agriculture assessment report (CNBC Africa) 

CNBC Africa interviewed John Ulimwengu, IFPRI Senior Research Fellow and the technical editor and lead researcher of the Africa Agriculture Status Report 2023, launched on September 6 at the Africa Food Systems Forum (AGRF). .  The Report titled “Empowering Africa’s Food Systems for the Future” highlights the ways in which Africa is uniquely positioned to redefine its future and […]

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Our experts

Joseph Glauber

Joseph Glauber

Research Fellow Emeritus , Director
General's Office (DGO)

Devesh Roy

Devesh Roy

Senior Research Fellow, Development
Strategies and Governance

Ian Masias

Ian Masias

Program Head, Development
Strategies and Governance

Charlotte Hebebrand

Charlotte Hebebrand

Director of Communications and Public Affairs, Communications
and Public Affairs (CPA)

Antoine Bouet

Antoine Bouet

Nonresident Senior Fellow, Markets,
Trade, and Institutions

Abdullah Mamun

Abdullah Mamun

Senior Research Analyst, Markets,
Trade, and Institutions

Kriti Sharma

Kriti Sharma

Research Analyst, Development
Strategies and Governance