Green Trade Rules Reshape the International Agricultural Trade Order: From Market Access to Traceable Compliance

Shipin Yang; Lihang Yu

doi:10.63313/EBM.9219

Authors

Shipin Yang Foshan University, School of Economics, Foshan 528000, China Author
Lihang Yu Foshan University, School of Economics, Foshan 528000, China Author

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.63313/EBM.9219

Keywords:

Green Trade Rules, Agricultural Trade, Market Access, Traceability, Sustainable Compliance, Developing Countries

Abstract

The global agricultural trade landscape is experiencing a profound structural transformation. The conventional paradigm of tariff liberalization no longer dictates the evolution of the international trade order; it has been superseded by a green trade regulatory framework encompassing Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) measures, Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT), voluntary sustainability standards (VSS), and the binding EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR). This paper examines how green trade rules reshape the international agricultural trade order via two mechanisms: market access thresholds and traceability compliance mandates. These rules redistribute trade gains between developed and developing economies, while introducing new governance challenges for global agricultural supply chains. We find that green market access barriers impose asymmetric shocks on developing-country agricultural exports; disparities in traceability compliance capabilities constitute a critical determinant of market access to premium green markets; furthermore, a significant tension persists between environmental objectives and inclusive development. The future of this order hinges on establishing an effective rebalancing mechanism between environmental imperatives and inclusive development.

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