Sustainable Trade in Global Supply Chains: Dilemmas and Solutions

Global supply chains are central to today’s world economy, offering opportunities for economic growth and job creation, especially in developing countries. But they also raise critical concerns: precarious working conditions, environmental harm, and contributions to climate change are just some of the negative side effects associated with global production networks. 

Policymakers, companies, and civil society actors are increasingly asking how trade can be made fairer and more sustainable. Voluntary sustainability standards have played a role, and mandatory regulation is being increasingly implemented, including in the European Union. At the same time, current global trends – from economic nationalism and fragmented trade regimes to deregulation – signal roadblocks ahead. 

Drawing on insights from the Hamburg Sustainability Conference, this GIGA Forum brings together experts to explore the future of sustainable global supply chains. What are the prospects for fair and environmentally responsible trade in a shifting global landscape? And how can Germany and its partners help shape trade that benefits both people and the planet? 

Speakers: Alejandra Martínez-Salinas, PhD, is Coordinator of the Forest and Biodiversity Unit in Productive Landscapes at the Tropical Agricultural Research and Higher Education Center (CATIE), Costa Rica. 

Prof. Dr. Santiago Fernández de Córdoba is Senior Economist at the UN Conference of Trade and Development and Coordinator of the United Nations Forum on Sustainability Standards (UNFSS). 

Prof. Dr. Jann Lay is Head of the Research Programme “Globalisation and Development” at the GIGA. 

Moderator: Dr. Ariel Macaspac Hernandez is a Research Fellow at the GIGA.