Agricultural trade is increasingly defined not by tariffs but by the standards and regulations that determine who can access markets. These global rules, anchored in the WTO Agreements on Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Measures and Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT), now sit at the heart of how countries connect to agricultural value chains. For developing economies, they can open doors to global markets or risk leaving producers behind. As climate pressures intensify and food systems face new sustainability demands, getting these rules to work for development has never been more urgent.

In December 2025, the WTO Secretariat and the Gates Foundation convened policymakers and producers in Nairobi under the theme Beyond Tariffs: How Standards and Regulations Shape Agribusiness Competitiveness. Building on those outcomes, this session on the sidelines of MC14 in Yaoundé will bring parliamentarians and business leaders together to chart how collaboration can turn regulations and standards into practical solutions that create jobs, support livelihoods, and build agricultural resilience.

Speakers will explore how parliamentary oversight, legislation, and private sector innovation can help farmers and small and medium-sized businesses in Africa meet global market requirements while advancing food security and sustainability goals. The session will conclude with a joint call to action outlining concrete steps for parliament–business partnerships, standard-setting bodies, and governments to make agricultural trade a stronger driver of sustainable growth in the post-MC14 landscape.