About the report
Getting more women to trade beyond the European Union will require policies that go beyond trade. Policies are needed to get women to set up and grow their businesses in high-growth potential industries, enter export markets, and enjoy equal rights and opportunities in the labour market. Trade policymakers can be part of the solution, by leveraging the platform provided by free trade agreements.
This report captures the links between women, companies they lead or work for, and trade outside the EU. Among the 1,118 firms surveyed in 12 EU countries, women are under-represented at all levels, and face various challenges.
Background
ITC in collaboration with the Directorate for Trade of the European Commission (DG Trade), in May 2019, launched a pilot survey assessing women's participation in extra-EU trade and identifying obstacles faced by women engaging in extra-EU trade.
The survey was implemented in 12 Member States of the European Union (EU): Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, The Netherlands, Poland, Spain and Sweden. Over a thousand women-led and men-led firms are being interviewed, covering the agricultural and manufacturing sectors.
The survey provides a solid evidence on the engagement of women-led businesses in extra-EU trade in terms of products, markets, and modalities. In addition, the survey dives deeper into the trade and trade-related challenges and barriers faced by women, mapping potential gender-specific issues.
Related Events
Launch of EU Gender Survey Report
The report “From Europe to the World: Understanding Challenges for European Businesswomen” was presented by ITC Executive Director Arancha González at the conference “Trade for Her: Empowering Women Through International Trade”, hosted in Brussels by the EU Trade Commissioner Cecilia Malmström.
10 September 2019. Brussels, Belgium