Trade Help Desk – easily accessible platform that simplifies market research worldwide

The Global Trade Helpdesk is operated by the International Trade Centre ITC, UNCTAD and WTO and sponsored by the Swiss Confederation and its State Secretariat of Economic Affairs SECO, and the Qatar Development Bank. It provides businesses with comprehensive and user-friendly access to real-time key data on demand, such as tariffs, import and export requirements, regulatory standards, and market opportunities. The eleven partners provide a wealth of global trade information at the fingertips of entrepreneurs around the world.

Easy to use
It is easy to use: The introductory page asks the user: import or export? In the case of export: from which country? Which product (according to HS code or product name)? To which country? After entering the data, for example for export from a country to Switzerland, detailed information appears within seconds, such as

• How attractive is Switzerland’s market as a global importer for your product?
• What are the market perspectives for your product in the Swiss market?
• What is the import share in Switzerland for your product?
• Was there any import growth for your products in the past 4 years?
• What is the export potential by 2028?
• What are Switzerland’s import tariffs for your product?",,"

A number of additional tools
The Trade Help Desk also offers an assessment tool titled "Does your product meet the mandatory requirements?" This section offers checklists: "Product Requirements", "Market Conditions", "Pre-Shipment&Inspection" and "Notified Regulatory Changes". The section  “Integrated Tools” encompasses a "Trade Map", an online application to analyse global trade flows; the "Market Access Map" that provides information on customs and other market access requirements applied by more than 200 countries; "UNCTAD TRAINS" with information on NTMs at the HS 6-digit product classification of more than 90 countries; "Export Potential Map" that translates a rigorous trade analysis of export information for 222 countries and 4,064 products, and " of so far 16 countries.  

In the context of sustainable development, the Global Trade Helpdesk also aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), specifically Goal 17, which emphasizes partnerships for development.

Concrete example: How SIPPO Indonesia regularly uses the tool
Aris Darujo, Country Representative Indonesia for SIPPO reports:

«SIPPO has been supporting its partner BSOs in Indonesia—including the Ministry of Trade, Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries, Ministry of Cooperatives and SMEs, and the Essential Oil Council by providing training in market intelligence tools like ITC Trade Map and the Global Trade Helpdesk.

For the Ministry of Cooperative and SMEs, we have focused heavily on the Global Trade Helpdesk and the Market Potential Map to explore export opportunities for Indonesian coffee in Switzerland and the Netherlands. Through these tools, we could identify key importers, pricing trends, competitors, relevant import regulations, and Switzerland’s popular e-commerce channels, along with confirming Indonesian coffee’s presence in these markets. As a result of the data gathered by the Ministry of Cooperatives and SMEs through the Global Trade Helpdesk and Market Potential Map, the organization of commercial missions has become more professional and targeted, enabling the ministry to arrange meetings with a broader network of key importers in Switzerland.

The Global Trade Helpdesk is highly user-friendly, making it accessible for beginners. It provides an easy summary of data from ITC Trade Map and offers a direct link to Trade Map for deeper analysis when needed.»