Trade and SDGs in the MENA Region: towards a more inclusive trade policy

in: ERF Policy Brief No. 56

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The MENA region liberalized its trade over the last two decades. Meanwhile, non-tariff measures and services restrictions proliferated leading to a distorted trade policy. Consequently, social outcomes did not improve with such a liberalization. Indeed, wages in protected sectors were generally lower than those in unprotected ones. Against this backdrop, a more inclusive trade policy can be used as a tool to improve its socio-economic impact and thus help attain some SDGs.