The following international organizations and inter-governmental organizations provide free access to reliable information about international trade law and policy on their respective websites:
- United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL)
UNCITRAL is a key player in the drafting of treaties to facilitate international trade through the harmonization of commercial law. Its website is an excellent source for treaty texts and related documents (organized by topic), as well as publications on international trade and related topics.
- European Union
The EU is another major player in the field of international trade. Relevant EU websites include the Directory of International Agreements (treaties between the EU and other entities, many of which pertain to international trade); the EUR-Lex Database (summaries of the EU's external trade legislation); the European Commission and the European Parliament (information about EU trade policy); and the EU Publications Office (trade-related publications, many freely available for download in PDF format).
- International Trade Centre (ITC)
The ITC is a joint agency of the U.N. and the WTO whose core mission is to develop trade-related technical assistance and capacity-building programs to improve the competitiveness and sustainability of small and medium-sized enterprises in the developing world. For more information, click on the Our Work and the Resources tabs on the main menu bar at the top of the ITC homepage.
- Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD)
The OECD provides a forum in which its 38 member countries can share data and develop solutions to common problems related to economic and social policy, including trade regulation.
- The Trade Section of the OECD's website contains a wealth of free information. Scroll down to browse by topic.
- OECD iLibrary
Members of the GULC community may access this subscription database, which includes materials that are not freely available on the OECD's public website. To browse for publications select either Browse by Theme (trade) or Browse by Theme and Country from the menu bar at the top of the homepage. To search for publications, use the Advanced Search template (linked below the basic search box at the top of the homepage).
- Organization of American States (OAS) Foreign Trade Information System (SICE)
This website is an excellent resource for trade-related information, including treaties and national legislation, for members of the OAS, which includes all countries in the Western Hemisphere. Browse content by country, by discipline (subject) or by trade agreement.
