Gendered Impacts - Blind Responses

In April 2025, the United States annouced dramatic tariff increases. Governments in the Global South responded with trade diplomacy, export diversification and support for firms. 

Not accounted for were the women working at the heart of the affected export sectors. Although female workers bore a disproportionate share of the burden, goverments' responses remained largely gender-blind.

FES study presentation

The FES study “Gendered Impacts – Blind Responses: The 2025 Tariff Crisis and the Case for Gender-Transformative Reforms” examines how the tariff increases affected women and gender justice across six Global South countries: Bangladesh, India, Madagasca, South Africa, Vietnam and Zimbabwe. 

From the garment and textile sector to harvesting citrus fruits, the gender lens is of broad relevance as it focuses attention on structural injustices in the trading system. It also reveals the pressing need for structural tranformation of economies if gender justice and economic justice objectives are to be achieved.

Join authors Caroline Dommen (Human Rights Economics), Ranja Sengupta (Third World Network) and Vahini Naidu (The South Centre as well as Estelle Elizagoïen (EU Commission, DG Trade) for a discussion of the paper's findings and the lessons the EU could draw for its own trade policy.  

Date: Tuesday, 27 October, 10:15 - 12:00 CET

Venue: Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung EU Office, Rue du Taciturne 38, 1000 Brussels

Spots are limited!

For more information and to sign up for the discussion, please write to Daniela Iller, Policy Officer for Trade & International Cooperation: Daniela.Iller(at)fes.de.