Australia is contributing AU$4mn via the Standards and Trade Development Facility (STDF) to help developing and least-developed countries gain better access to global agriculture markets.
The STDF operates as both a knowledge platform and funding mechanism, bringing together expertise from the World Trade Organization, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, World Health Organization, World Organization for Animal Health and World Bank Group.
Building safe trade capacity
Australia’s pledge will contribute to the STDF’s 2025–2030 strategy, dubbed Facilitating Safe Trade to Meet the Global Goals. The strategy focuses on building up sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) capacity in developing nations so their exporters can deepen their participation in global trade.
Since its creation in 2004, the STDF has supported over 260 projects including schemes in least-developed countries and Small Island Developing States.
This latest commitment builds on Australia’s long-running support for developing country trade capacity. In 2022, Australia contributed AU$2.9mn to the STDF.
Why it matters
Meeting SPS standards is often one of the biggest barriers preventing developing countries from accessing export markets. Without proper technical systems, exporters can see their shipments rejected or delayed, blocking them from lucrative trade opportunities.
The STDF helps overcome these challenges by funding projects aimed at reducing border rejection rates, enhancing food safety systems and providing exporters with the technical capacity needed to meet international requirements.
According to WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Australia’s support “creates new possibilities for sales regionally and around the world”.