New report looks at role of South-South and triangular cooperation for trade development

Entitled "Transformative Partnerships for Trade Resilience: South-South and Triangular Cooperation in Action", the publication underscores that South-South merchandise exports reached USD 7.2 trillion in 2025, accounting for 27.8 per cent of world merchandise exports, compared with 14.3 per cent 20 years ago. South-South trade expanded 4.8-fold over this period, almost twice as fast as trade between developing and developed economies. However, trade remains heavily concentrated in Asian developing economies, while greater regional integration in Africa and Latin America and the Caribbean offers significant opportunities for further growth, the study finds.

The publication explores the measurement and reporting of South-South cooperation. With contributions from United Nations Trade and Development (UNCTAD) and the International Forum on Total Official Support for Sustainable Development (TOSSD), hosted by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), it examines statistical frameworks that can help capture forms of development cooperation that complement Aid for Trade statistics, such as technical assistance, knowledge exchange and other non-financial contributions.

The publication underscores the importance of South-South and triangular cooperation in light of increasing pressure on traditional development assistance and underscores its role in complementing North-South cooperation. It identifies priorities for strengthening partnerships, improving coordination and measurement, and mobilizing additional expertise and resources to support trade and development.

In the launch session co-organized by the WTO, UNOSSC and Barbados, the WTO and UNOSSC reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening partnerships that help developing economies build trade capacity and benefit more fully from international trade.

This story was originally published by WTO News. Read the full story at WTO News →