Market access

This work was started under the direction of WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and was overseen by Deputy Director-General Anabel González and Yuvan Beejadhur Senior Adviser to the Director-General.

WTO rules support efforts to address the threat of illicit trade in medical products by promoting transparency and predictability and setting the foundation for strengthened border and regulatory controls and enhanced cooperation. This publication explores WTO tools and activities that can help WTO members develop and strengthen their trade policy responses to combat illicit trade in medical products.

I have long been concerned by illicit trade. As Finance Minister in my home country Nigeria I witnessed how it harms societies and impedes economic growth and development. Although the full scale of illicit trade is often obscured by its clandestine nature there is little doubt about its impacts. Spurious products threaten people’s health as well as their livelihoods. Illicit trade undermines legitimate business activity abets corruption and acts as a drain on the revenue and resources governments need to address critical social and economic priorities. And when illicit traders join forces with corrupt officials and financiers the negative impacts are amplified. Illicit trade leaves no country developing or developed untouched.