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Easing trade tariffs and quotas supports sustainable development Making agriculture and food trade easier by removing or reducing trade barriers, such as tariffs and quotas, supports sustainable development, concludes a new project led

by Corvinus University of Budapest.

The Trade4SD (Trade for Sustainable Development) project explored how international trade can support sustainable development goals. This included 13 partners from 10 countries, mainly in Europe, alongside Ghana and Vietnam.

The research project finds that trade liberalisation - making agri-food trade easier by removing or reducing barriers to trade supports sustainable development. However, trade liberalisation does not automatically lead to sustainability. It must be paired with policies that ensure fair distribution of benefits, protect the environment, and help vulnerable groups (such as women and smallholders) participate in global markets.

For example, when import tariffs are lowered for sustainably certified coffee in Vietnam, this incentivises environmentally friendly production. It also increases incomes for smallholder farmers as they can more easily afford to enter EU markets. In Ghana, liberalisation of cocoa trade com bined with voluntary sustainability standards has led to better labour conditions, gender inclusion, and reduced deforestation, if farmers are supported with training and infrastructure.

“Trade liberalisation can support sustainable development if it creates incentives for inclusive economic growth, environmentally responsible production, and better livelihoods, particularly in lower-income countries. However, the impact depends on the design of trade policies and the presence of complementary measures,” says project leader Attila Jámbor, head of the Institute for Sustainable Development at Corvinus University.

Although recommendations are primarily aimed at EU policymakers, they are also relevant for national governments as they shape their trade and agricultural policies.

Jámbor acknowledges that current US trade policies run counter to the aims of this project; “The US government is focused solely on promoting its own interests, while our project is about trying to consider global ones. You can’t achieve sustainability without global cooperation. Trade is a tool, barrie not a barrier.”

Project researchers worked with the European Commission, the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), and the World Trade Organisation (WT Release from BlueSky Education

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Postcode Lottery in Domestic Abuse Response Puts Pets and Survivors at Risk A new report (One Response) by the animal welfare charity Naturewatch Foundation reveals a troubling “postcode lottery” in how police forces across England and Wales are trained to handle coercive control involving pets — a critical but often overlooked aspect of domestic abuse.

Despite the scale of domestic abuse – affecting an estimated 2.3 million adults in the year ending March 2024, and 12.6 million people (one in five adults) over their lifetimes – only 60% of police forces currently include training on how animals are used as tools of coercion, punishment and manipulation by abusers.

With 60% of UK households owning a pet, the intersection of domestic abuse and animal abuse is no small issue. It is a national safeguarding blind spot.

There are an estimated 900,000 crime scenes a year where a pet is present - that’s 900,000 opportunities that might be missed to protect animals and protect people too.

“Survivors often form deep emotional bonds with their pets, particularly in the context of abusive relationships. Abusers frequently exploit this connection to exert further control. If we are truly committed to addressing Violence Against Women and Girls, a consistent and robust police response must be the standard,” said Mark Ran dell, Campaigns Manager at Naturewatch Foundation and former Senior Detective.

“It’s concerning that, although this issue is recognised in domestic abuse risk assessments, it remains absent from mandatory police training.

Naturewatch Foundation submitted 43 Freedom of Information (FOI) requests to police forces in England and Wales. While 41 forces confirmed they provide training on coercive control, just 26 reported that their training includes the role of pets in domestic abuse. Greater Manchester Police declined to respond.

The report also highlights the voices of 687 concerned supporters of the charity, who wrote to their Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs) calling for stronger protections for both people and animals. While some Commissioners responded constructively, many cited operational limitations or passed the concern on without firm commitments.

Naturewatch Foundation is calling for: • Mandatory training for all frontline officers on the use of pets in coercive control.

• National consistency in safeguarding policies related to pets.

• Greater collaboration between domestic abuse professionals and animal welfare experts.

Despite being recognised in official risk assessment tools like DASH and DARA, the link between animal and human abuse remains under-addressed in many areas.

“We shouldn’t be relying on luck or geography when it comes to keeping us safe,” Mark added.

“Victims and their animals deserve a coordinated, informed response - no matter which police force is responsible for our home. Domestic abuse response must be consistent across all regions. Support shouldn't be determined by postcode. There should be one response.”

Release from Naturewatch

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