WIDE+ Gender and Trade Working Group meets in Brussels
On 18 to 19 June 2026, members of the WIDE+ Gender and Trade Working Group gathered at Mundo Matongé in Brussels for two days of exchange, reflection and collective planning.
Bringing together members from Europe and beyond, the Working Group shares a commitment to advancing feminist perspectives in European trade policy. Meeting in person gave us valuable space to take stock of where we are, strengthen our collaboration and shape our strategy and priorities for the remainder of 2026 and into 2027, across research, advocacy and collective action.
Strengthening feminist advocacy on trade
A central part of our discussions focused on how to strengthen feminist advocacy both within and beyond the Domestic Advisory Group (DAG) structures, and how to better ensure that the perspectives of people whose lives and communities are affected by trade policies are heard.
Participants stressed the importance of safeguarding meaningful and independent civil society participation in the DAGs, particularly at a time when the space for engagement is shrinking. Members agreed on the need to follow up with EU institutions to help ensure these spaces remain open, inclusive and safe. This includes advancing discussions on a Code of Conduct that establishes clear principles and safeguards for participation.
Building stronger alliances is essential to this effort. WIDE+ welcomes organisations and networks working on trade, feminism and human rights to engage more closely with our work in the DAGs, contribute their perspectives and explore opportunities for collaboration and joint advocacy.
The meeting also offered an opportunity to step beyond immediate policy debates and consider the broader economic structures we seek to transform. One of our members led a conversation on the need for a theoretical framework connecting the gendered impacts of trade with feminist approaches that challenge the structural inequalities embedded in today’s economic systems. From social reproduction and intersectionality to the sustainability of life, the exchange raised important questions about how we understand—and reimagine—the economy.
The group also reflected on the political power of feminist language and narratives grounded in the experiences, struggles and voices of the communities most directly concerned, and on their potential to express solidarity across borders. Looking ahead, we discussed our programme of activities for autumn 2026 and spring 2027.
We left Brussels with stronger connections, clearer priorities and a renewed sense of shared purpose. Feminist trade advocacy, we agreed, is not only about influencing policy. It is also about asking deeper questions: Whose interests are prioritised? Whose voices are heard? And, ultimately, what kind of economies do we want to build?