More than 40% of global deforestation occurs in Latin America, resulting in high greenhouse gas emissions and biodiversity loss. One of the main drivers of this dynamic is agricultural expansion, with about 25% of land use changes associated with agricultural commodity exports.

The European Union accounts for about 16% of global deforestation through international trade. In this context, the project seeks to promote agricultural production chains free of deforestation and conversion of natural ecosystems, in line with new regulations and international commitments.

Trade4EU extends successful concepts and instruments developed in previous initiatives, including sectoral guides, financing mechanisms and monitoring systems. The project also explores digital solutions, such as the use of geodata and traceability tools, to increase transparency in supply chains.

In addition, the initiative strengthens and creates strategic alliances, multisectoral dialogues, and public-private partnerships between governments, the private sector, indigenous peoples, and local communities. The focus is on protecting tropical forests, promoting sustainable agricultural practices, and generating decent livelihoods, especially for the most vulnerable groups impacted by deforestation. With this, the project contributes directly to the implementation of national and regional REDD+ and sustainable trade policies, supporting the transition to an inclusive and low-emission bioeconomy.