Women are a powerful engine for international trade and economic growth. As workers, small-scale traders, entrepreneurs, and producers, their engagement in export activities has the potential not only to elevate overall productivity and competitiveness in the international market but also to reduce poverty. However, women encounter multiple obstacles and legal barriers when participating in trade, hindering the full realization of economic gains that can be achieved through trade liberalization. This Brief analyzes women’s participation in international trade and impediments to gender equality in national laws measured in the Women, Business and the Law index. Specifically, in 2024, 504 legal provisions across 145 economies are identified as creating unequal conditions between men and women to take part in international trade. Drawing from examples around the world, the Brief further discusses the role of trade instruments, especially preferential trade agreements, in eliminating legal barriers that discriminate against women, and enhancing their involvement in export-related activities to reap the benefits of trade on global welfare.

女性是国际贸易与经济增长的强大引擎。作为劳动者、小规模贸易商、企业家和生产商，她们参与出口活动不仅能提升国际市场整体生产力与竞争力，还能有效减少贫困。然而女性在参与贸易过程中面临多重障碍与法律壁垒，阻碍了通过贸易自由化实现经济收益的充分潜力。本期简报通过《女性、商业与法律》指数，分析了女性参与国际贸易的现状及国家法律中存在的性别平等障碍。具体而言，2024年数据显示，全球145个经济体中有504项法律条款被认定导致男女参与国际贸易的条件不平等。通过全球案例研究，简报进一步探讨了贸易工具——特别是优惠贸易协定——在消除歧视性法律壁垒、增强女性对出口活动的参与度，以及提升全球福祉方面的关键作用。

https://openknowledge.worldbank.org/entities/publication/e66a9531-e0d7-4f23-acf9-087259de668f