Summary
This report examines the role of prices and trading practices in shaping livelihoods and sustainability outcomes across six commodity sectors—palm oil, coffee, cocoa, cotton, garments and textiles, and artisanal and small-scale gold mining. Drawing on literature review and expert knowledge, the study analyses key factors influencing commodity price formation, including market structures, power imbalances, transparency deficits, and regulatory constraints. It explores a range of strategies to influence prices and trading practices and assesses the potential role of European public and private actors in creating a more enabling price environment for producers outside Europe. The report situates pricing within broader discussions on human rights due diligence, sustainability regulation, and corporate sourcing practices, arguing that market forces alone have been insufficient to deliver fair value distribution. It concludes with key insights and recommendations aimed at integrating pricing and trading practices into more holistic approaches to sustainable and inclusive global value chains.