Aligning Trade and Sustainability: Voluntary Sustainability Standards Presence and Uptake in the Gulf Cooperation Council Countries

ABSTRACT This paper analyses voluntary sustainability standards (VSSs) in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Countries, distinguishing between VSS presence (the number of standards) and uptake (certified production). The GCC region includes high‐income countries where sustainable practices are among the top priorities. Therefore, it is the most suitable region in the Middle East and among Arab countries to study the landscape of sustainability tools such as VSSs. The study seeks to explain the internal factors (sectoral significance) and external factors (trade) that are associated with the presence and uptake of VSSs in the region. Correlation analysis based on the International Trade Centre data does not show a clear relationship between VSS presence and overall sectoral significance and trade patterns, whether measured by trade volume or destination. Further analysis in the agricultural sector, using FiBL organic data, suggests that the share of certified organic production is positively associated with exports to higher‐income markets. This finding suggests that policy efforts should support the effective uptake of VSSs, particularly in sectors targeting higher‐income export markets.