Australia has announced a contribution of AUD 4 million to the Standards and Trade Development Facility (STDF), a global partnership managed by the World Trade Organization (WTO). The funding will support initiatives under the STDF’s 2025–2030 Strategy, which aims to strengthen sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) capacity in developing countries, promote their integration into open markets, and enhance their participation in international trade.
WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala stated: "We're grateful for Australia's ongoing support in helping farmers and small businesses to improve their capacity to meet sanitary and phytosanitary standards in export markets. This in turn creates new possibilities for sales regionally and around the world, contributing to income growth and job creation. Australia is a long-time supporter of the STDF, and this latest contribution is a welcome reaffirmation of its commitment to the important work of the STDF and its vision of promoting sustainable economic growth, poverty reduction and food security."
Australia’s Permanent Representative to the WTO, Ambassador James Baxter, said: "Australia is proud of its partnership with the STDF. As an agricultural exporter and island nation, Australia is keenly aware of how important it is for countries to be able to access the WTO SPS Agreement. The SPS Agreement remains a critical global framework for balancing trade facilitation, public health and environmental protection. The STDF provides vital and trusted technical assistance and capacity- building support to developing and least-developed countries in our region and globally. I commend the STDF’s collaborative, science-based approach, which is helping beneficiary countries to curb the spread of pests and diseases and enhancing their access to international agricultural markets."
This recent pledge continues Australia’s history of supporting the STDF through its Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Over two decades, Australia has contributed more than CHF 21 million to WTO trust funds—including over CHF 4 million specifically for the STDF—excluding this latest disbursement.
Australia participates actively in shaping STDF strategies as part of its Working Group. The country also collaborates on projects such as strengthening apiculture industries in Pacific nations—where women and youth are significant contributors—and piloting innovative approaches for food safety audits that benefit both regional partners and global trading systems.
The STDF was established by several organizations: Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), World Bank Group, World Health Organization (WHO), World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH), along with the WTO itself as host organization. Its work aligns with United Nations Sustainable Development Goals by responding to changing SPS needs while fostering inclusive trade, economic growth, poverty reduction, food security, and resilience against climate change.
Developing countries are encouraged to seek project grants from the STDF; so far it has funded more than 260 projects benefitting developing economies including least developed countries (LDCs) and Small Island Developing States.