To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps his Department takes to advocate particular trade proposals to developing countries; and what factors are taken into account in deciding whether to advocate a particular proposal. (217038)

Development has been at the heart of UK’s trade policy for the past 10 years. The Government have promoted trade policies that bring real benefits to developing countries. This continues to be our position in various ongoing global and regional trade talks involving both developed and developing countries.

The Department for International Development (DFID) also aims to provide countries with the tools and knowledge they need to form their own positions in trade negotiations. DFID funds research through the World Bank, UN and think tanks on critical trade and development issues. For example, DFID has supported IDEAS, a Geneva based NGO, to help West African cotton producing countries to better grasp the challenges and opportunities linked to emerging proposals on cotton in the WTO negotiations.

DFID supports a number of initiatives which strengthen developing countries trade policies. For example, the Enhanced Integrated Framework will help developing countries to mainstream trade within their broader policies on growth and development.