Trade has been a key engine of economic growth and poverty reduction in recent decades, helping lift more than one billion people out of poverty. Open trade allows households to acquire cheaper imported goods and increases their income as workers earn more when their products are exported abroad. However, geopolitical conflicts can lead some countries to use trade barriers as a tool for economic pressure, following the rationale: my country’s loss will be smaller than the loss of my former trading partner. We work with governments and businesses to design appropriate solutions and tools to mitigate the impact of those pressures.

Quotas on Milk

In one of the poorest countries in the world, women cross the borders every day to sell their milk in a neighboring country. On their way back, customs officers force them to throw the remaining unsold milk in the river. In order to circumvent the negative impact of quotas, we helped decision makers design milk repatriation system that would improve the lives of the poorest on our planet.

Restriction on doing business

Our successful experiences include helping leaders cut the cost of establishing businesses by 72 percent, reduce the real time it takes to start a business to a single day, and increase new entrepreneurs’ access to credit. Thousands of entrepreneurs were able to move into the formal economy.

Limits of Trade Protectionism

Following the lead of President Donald Trump, many countries started putting restrictions on trade, although their local context is very different from the USA. We work with decision makers on cutting down tariffs, strengthening trade relationships, and highlighting the importance of capital account surplus.