New EU trade rules could put poor countries in a billion dollar ‘green squeeze’

New EU green trade measures can and should complement development goals. This way we can avoid hurting developing nations and the people who live there

Coffee is one of Ethiopia's main exports, but EU deforestation rules could cost the country €1 billion a year. 

The EU parliament has just approved sweeping new rules that will require companies to avoid and mitigate human rights and environmental abuses in their supply chains.

These are noble aims. They have been a long time coming. But without careful design and more proactive support for business and suppliers in the developing world, there are real risks of well-intentioned policies putting the poorest countries in a “green squeeze”.