Improving consumer protection worldwide

Context

Consumer protection is essential in order to maintain a balance between businesses and consumers. It promotes economic, socially just and environmentally friendly developments and contributes to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations.

The rapid growth of emerging economies and global developments such as digitalisation and globalisation have significantly changed the economies of developing and emerging countries. New regulations that protect consumers are therefore needed, as are instruments that enforce these regulations.

At the same time, new technologies and innovative market participants offer opportunities to develop new approaches. These balance the relationship between consumers and businesses and promote environmentally friendly consumption.

Objective

Participating institutions from Brazil, China, Indonesia and Germany can better embed and enforce consumer rights and thus contribute to the SDGs.

Approach

The project focuses on international dialogue to promote consumer protection worldwide. It builds on a predecessor project between Brazil, China, Indonesia and Germany. Furthermore, it incorporates African countries into the dialogue.

The project works in three priority areas:

• It organises quarterly round tables at which partner institutions, external experts and representatives of international organisations discuss selected consumer protection topics.
• It establishes regular workshops that allow in-depth discussions on the topics of the round tables.
• It participates in international conferences and consumer protection committees of international organisations, such as the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development.

Last updated: February 2025