Trade is an important instrument, not a goal in itself. More trade will not necessarily result in expanded national income or poverty reduction – this is a function of the whole set of the economic, social and political conditions that influence development. This article will highlight some of the issues to be addressed if trade policy is to be an important instrument of social justice.

Trade and poverty reduction

For developing countries, one of the most important aspects of social justice is poverty reduction. Trade can play a role in poverty reduction. On average trade constitutes 30 per cent of global GDP. Poverty reduction requires sustained economic growth, which in the context of trade generally denotes export expansion. Import bottlenecks hamper the full utilization and efficient development of domestic productive capacities. Hence, exports and imports facilitate sustained economic growth, development of productive capacities, expansion of employment opportunities and sustained livelihoods.

Three types of trade-poverty relationships can be identified:

1. 1. Virtuous trade effects, where backward and forward linkages to traded products are established leading to an overall increase in consumption.

2. 2. Immiserizing trade effects, where few linkages are established with domestic industry, and domestic consumption actually decreases.

3. 3. Ambiguous trade effects showing no clear trend.