Trade, development and human rights

World Trade Organization (WTO) law does not exist in isolation from other fields of international law and policy. Its rules touch upon, and influence outcomes for key international goals. These include broad goals, such as the elimination of extreme poverty, the achievement of heightened equality and social inclusion, the adoption of sustainable development as a global practice and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. They also include specific goals, such as access to the highest attainable standard of health, to affordable and accessible essential services and to observance of labour standards. To a greater or lesser extent, WTO law applies rules affecting all of these areas. The potential for international trade to benefit sustainable development and human rights is recognized in the SDGs, but trade needs to occur in a manner which actively supports their realization. WTO law must operate as one set among many in an international law system which robustly protects sustainable development and human rights.