As multilateral trade institutions struggle to keep pace with evolving global priorities, regional groupings are increasingly filling critical governance gaps. This article examines the limitations of the World Trade Organization (WTO) in addressing inclusive trade concerns – particularly the ones relating to women – and explores how informal regional and interregional coalitions such as the Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa (BRICS), the Group of Twenty (G20), and Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) are emerging as key actors in the evolving landscape of trade regulation. Through the use of soft law, cooperation, and informal diplomacy, these blocs are crafting flexible frameworks that can possibly respond more effectively to contemporary socio-economic challenges. The article examines the increasing legitimacy and influence of these networks in shaping international trade norms and policies in an area where consensus within the WTO has stalled: trade and women empowerment. Focusing on the role of these groups in setting norms on inclusive trade, the article argues for a re-imagined model of trade governance – one that is multilayered, adaptive, and inclusive – where regional and informal mechanisms complement, rather than replace, multilateralism.
Journal of World Trade