Analysing the impact of trade agreements on national food environments: the case of Vanuatu

Abstract

Background A large body of literature exists on trade liberalisation and the ways in which trade agreements can affect food systems. However, the systematic and objective monitoring of these and their impact on national food environments has been limited. Using a case study, this paper undertakes a systematic analysis of how Vanuatu’s obligations under WTO agreements has impacted its food environment. Results Data collection was guided by the INFORMAS trade monitoring framework’s minimal approach and seven selected indicators outlined in three domains: trade in goods, trade in services and FDI, and policy space. Strong associations between trade liberalisation and imported foods, especially ultra-processed foods were evident in measured indicators as follows: (i) food trade with 32 WTO countries showing high levels of import volumes; (ii) a marked increase in ‘less healthy’ focus food imports namely fatty and other selected meat products, sugar, savoury snacks, ice-cream and edible ices and energy-dense beverages; (iii) actual and bound tariff rates impacting import trends of ice-cream and edible ices, bakery products and confectionary; and in other instances, a sharp increase in import of crisps, snacks and noodles despite tariff rates remaining unchanged from 2008 to 2019; (iv) policies regulating food marketing, composition, labelling and trade in the domestic space with relatively limited safeguard measures; (v) 49 foreign-owned food-related companies involved in food manufacturing and processing and the production of coffee, bakery products, confectionary, food preservatives, fish, local food products and meat, and the manufacturing, processing and packaging of palm oil, coconut oil, cooking oil, water, cordial juice, flavoured juices, soft drinks and alcoholic beverages. These were largely produced for local consumption; (vi) 32 domestic industries engaged in food and beverage production; and (vii) an assessment of WTO provisions relating to domestic policy space and governance showing that the current legal and regulatory environment for food in Vanuatu remains fragmented. Conclusions The analysis presented in this paper suggest that Vanuatu’s commitments to WTO agreements do play an important role in shaping their food environment and the availability, nutritional quality, and accessibility of foods.

Sociocultural Influences Contribute to Overeating and Unhealthy Eating: Creating and Maintaining an Obesogenic Social Environment in Indigenous Communities in Urban Fiji

“…For example, trade policies and their impacts on processed food consumption dominated early literature on dietary transition in PICs and continues to be a key focus of research in this area. Studies found that trade liberalization, in particular, resulted not only in greater imports of ultra-processed foods but also that the ensuing competition caused a reduction in the prices of domestically-produced processed foods in low- to middle-income PICs, ultimately making processed food more affordable within Pacific communities (e.g., [ 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 ]). Nutrition reports from PICs also confirm an increase in the consumption of processed foods, including refined cereals, sugar-sweetened beverages, meat, and fats, after trade polices (including trade liberalization) came into effect in PICs (e.g., [ 12 , 14 , 15 , 17 ]).…”

Globalisation and Rising Obesity in Low-Middle Income Countries

“…In the period the WHO commissioned various projects to combat obesity, free trade agreements (FTAs) which the WTO oversees, increased to 270 in 2017 in less than 30 years, and obesity rose from 4% to over 18% in the corresponding period [39]. Evidence shows that the proliferation of FTAs is associated with increased sugar and calorie consumption [39,40], demonstrating the global north's heavy influence in the governance and set up of WTO. This governance set-up pushes capitalist ideas and policies that further the global north's goals without concern for the health of the global south [39,40].…”

“…Evidence shows that the proliferation of FTAs is associated with increased sugar and calorie consumption [39,40], demonstrating the global north's heavy influence in the governance and set up of WTO. This governance set-up pushes capitalist ideas and policies that further the global north's goals without concern for the health of the global south [39,40]. While the WHO's policy actions against obesity may have called for inter/multi-sectoral cooperation, the reality is that cooperation among the major players in the GHG space has been anything but that [39,40].…”

“…This governance set-up pushes capitalist ideas and policies that further the global north's goals without concern for the health of the global south [39,40]. While the WHO's policy actions against obesity may have called for inter/multi-sectoral cooperation, the reality is that cooperation among the major players in the GHG space has been anything but that [39,40].…”

Physicochemical and microbiological analysis of goose meat

“…It represents an effective means to maintain quality of meat and extend its shelf life, especially during long-distance transportation. For this reason, most categories of meat in international trade are in frozen form (Ravuvu et al, 2021). Moreover, consumers also prefer keeping products in a frozen state at home.…”