Indicator 17.31 EU imports from least developed countries

This indicator is defined as the share of all extra-EU imports coming from the countries classified by the UN as least developed. It indicates to what extent products from these countries access the EU market. Information for this indicator is provided by enterprises with a trade volume above a set threshold and is collected on the basis of customs declarations. This information is then adjusted by Member States to account for the impact of trade under this threshold.

Indicator is used to monitor progress towards SDG 17 on revitalizing the global partnership for sustainable development which is embedded in the European Commission’s Priorities under ‘A new era for European Defence and Security’ and ‘Protecting our democracy, upholding our values’. The potential contribution of trade to sustainable development has long been acknowledged. The EU is leading the way towards a more equal global partnership with developing countries by taking a responsible approach to trade and investment policy, for instance through the ‘Trade for All’ strategy (2015) which aims to help developing countries participate more fully in the global market. Furthermore, the EU facilitates imports from developing countries by granting tariff reductions under its Generalised Scheme of Preferences and by providing ‘Aid for Trade’ targeted at supporting trade-related infrastructure, trade-related assistance and private sector development. Finally, the Cotonou Agreement regulates the EU’s relationship with 79 countries from Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific (ACP), focusing on development cooperation, political cooperation as well as economic and trade cooperation.

The EU updated its Aid for Trade Strategy in 2017, to reflect the significant political changes both globally — in particular, the 2030 Agenda — and at the EU level, including the new European Consensus on Development and Trade for All. The updated strategy aims to enhance the coherence of aid for trade with other EU policies and instruments, including EU trade agreements and unilateral preference schemes. The focus on LDCs constitutes a key part of the updated strategy. In 2021, the EU conducted a review of its trade strategy, with a view to reflecting its new, more sustainable growth model as well as the SDGs.