By Elizabeth R. Auma K, Trade Policy Leader/Bridging Policy, People & Purpose/ Founder, Hearts&Trade

Over the last couple of years, I have had the opportunity to take the lead in developing Uganda’s Trade Remedies Bill. Trade remedies are generally designed to protect domestic industries from injury caused by certain forms of unfair trade practices in the global market. Trade remedies recognize that countries need to open their markets and trade with one another, but they also need mechanisms to protect legitimate national interests when circumstances demand it. As I reviewed the documents and studied the key aspects relevant to Uganda, including safeguards, dumping, and subsidies, I began to realize that trade remedies apply to life in ways I had never considered before.

One key lesson I picked up in this area of Trade policy is that being open does not mean being without boundaries. A country can open its market while still protecting what it values. It can welcome trade while putting in place safeguards against circumstances that could cause serious harm to its domestic industries. It can pursue market access without surrendering its national interests. Life is not so different.

Sometimes we are so desperate for access to a relationship, an opportunity, a position, a friendship, or even acceptance that we open ourselves without considering what we are allowing in. We want the access or opportunity so badly that we forget to put safeguards in place.

I have also learned that this applies to negotiations. At the negotiating table, we can become so focused on securing the deal that we forget to protect the interests that brought us there in the first place. I ask myself; What am I trying to achieve? Where do I need a safeguard?

It is evident that Countries need trade, people need relationships and businesses need markets. To sum it up we all need opportunities. But openness without wisdom can become vulnerability. As I continue to work in trade policy, I am learning that the principles we develop for nations can sometimes teach us something about ourselves.From the trade remedies classroom the lesson is clear; not every open door should be entered without safeguards.