Oxfam International Background Policy Note on the Aid-for-Trade Package

As the Commission for Africa report comments, major increases in aid investments are necessary to build dcs’ capacity to trade, particularly in infrastructure and communications. Efforts to date to support developing countries have been made on a best-endeavour basis, and in a constrained environment for aid resources, trade-related issues have justifiably had to compete with priority sectors such as health and education. But assistance is also needed to address the impacts of preference erosion, loss of tariff revenue, social costs, and to provide support to efforts to undertake trade facilitation efforts and meet standards.