Foreword

This report on the “trade impacts of LDC graduation” responds to a specific request from the LDC Group in the WTO for an analysis of how graduating from LDC status will impact countries’ trade relations. LDCs are accorded special treatment in the WTO, in particular with regard to enhanced market access opportunities and policy flexibilities. Therefore, it is important to ascertain how the loss of such treatment will impact graduating LDCs. The issue has assumed special significance with a quarter of the LDCs on the path to graduation and the associated loss of benefits tied to this status.