Development Issues—Aid for Trade

The needs of developing countries deserve special mention, as advancing the cause of development through these negotiations is a key objective in the Doha Development Agenda and, more generally, at the WTO. Aid for Trade (AfT) aims to help developing countries build the supply-side capacity and trade-related infrastructure needed to implement and benefit from trade agreements and to expand their trade.

Canada is actively engaged in AfT at the bilateral, regional and multilateral levels. Canada believes that AfT can help address some of the challenges faced by developing countries in the Doha round of negotiations and help them reap benefits from a successful conclusion of the round. In 2007, as reported to the OECD, Canada spent $258.4 million across all areas of AfT, a 16% increase from 2006. These disbursements accounted for approximately 18% of Canada's total sector allocable official development assistance. A significant proportion (27%) of Canada's AfT is allocated at the multilateral level, to initiatives such as the International Trade Centre, the Enhanced Integrated Framework and the World Bank. At the regional level, 27% was directed toward Asia, followed by 21% to Africa, 8% to the Americas, and 4% to Europe, the Middle East and the Maghreb. Allocations to civil society and other partnerships accounted for 11%.