Spain, International Trade Centre team up for deforestation-free trade

(Madrid/Geneva) - A €1.5 million contribution from Spain's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Enterprise is set to enable a digital platform built by the International Trade Centre (ITC) to support Latin American businesses to meet new regulations to access the European Union market.

The ITC Deforestation-Free Trade Gateway (DFTG) supports companies to collect farm-level data, prepare due diligence statements and demonstrate compliance with the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR).

The pilot phase of the DFTG focused on coffee value chains in five Latin American countries. The platform's design allows it to expand to other geographical locations and commodities covered by the regulation - Spain's support will expand the platform's reach and functionality.

'With this contribution, Spain reaffirms its commitment to more sustainable and responsible trade. Our collaboration supports companies in their transition towards a greener, more innovative, and competitive economic model,' said Amparo López Senovilla, Spain's Secretary of State for Trade.

Montse Prieto, Director of the Spanish Coffee Association (AECafé), said: 'Our members are deeply committed to meeting the EUDR due diligence requirements, and initiatives like this provide the digital tools and data access they need to continue advancing towards full compliance.'

Now, the DFTG is helping turn that commitment into action.

ITC Executive Director Pamela Coke-Hamilton said: 'The Deforestation-Free Trade Gateway is a one-stop shop for farmers and exporters from producing countries to submit - and own - their data, so they can show that they meet market access requirements. That in turn enables European operators to meet due diligence obligations and sustain trade flows based on transparency and trust.'

One system for many buyers

For farmers and exporters across Latin America, the new regulation can be overwhelming and stretch their capacity.

Each European buyer could request information proving compliance using different systems - an unmanageable task for small producers already struggling with limited time and resources.

The DFTG solves this challenge by creating a single-entry point for all EUDR-related data. Through the platform, producers, cooperatives and exporters in producing countries can upload their farm-level information once and grant access to multiple EU operators who can use it to prepare their due diligence statements.

This shared system saves time, reduces duplication and gives all the users full control over how their data is shared and used. It also helps European operators verify compliance faster and more consistently - keeping trade flowing while protecting forests.

'DFTG supports better business practices while helping to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and protect biodiversity,' said Spain's Secretary of State for Trade, Amparo López Senovilla.

By joining forces, Spain and ITC are helping ensure that sustainable production and responsible trade go hand in hand - keeping businesses competitive while preserving forests worldwide.

Building on this partnership, the initiative has strong potential to contribute to the objectives of the Team Europe Initiative on Deforestation, by fostering digital transparency, traceability and collaboration between European operators and Latin American producers.

For more information on the platform and related resources, see the ITC landing page on the Deforestation-Free Trade Gateway: Deforestation-Free Trade Gateway | ITC

Notes for the editor

About Ministry of Economy, Trade and Business, Spain Government - The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Business is responsible for proposing and executing the Spanish Government's policy on economic matters and reforms to improve competitiveness and trade. The Ministry is organized into the following higher-level departments: the Secretary of State for Economy and Business Support and the Secretary of State for Trade.

For more information, visit https://portal.mineco.gob.es/en-us/Pages/index.aspx

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About the International Trade Centre - The International Trade Centre is the joint agency of the World Trade Organization and the United Nations. ITC assists small and medium-sized enterprises in developing and transition economies to become more competitive in global markets, thereby contributing to sustainable economic development within the frameworks of the Aid-for-Trade agenda and the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals.

For more information, visit https://www.intracen.org.

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Media contacts

Communication Department of Ministry of Economy, Trade and Business

Spain Government

prensa[at] economia.gob.es(prensa[at]economia[dot]gob[dot]es)

Susanna Pak

Senior Strategic Communications Officer

International Trade Centre

pak[at] intracen.org(pak[at]intracen[dot]org)