Trade has become a powerful enforcement mechanism for sustainability, shifting from voluntary commitments to binding conditions for market access. As global competition intensifies and the World Trade Organisation (WTO) struggles to remain relevant, major economies increasingly embed environmental and social standards into bilateral and regional agreements, from labour and environmental clauses in early US trade deals to the EU’s far-reaching Trade and Sustainable Development chapters. Instruments such as the EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism, the Deforestation-Free Products Regulation, and forced-labour import bans illustrate how sustainability standards are now shaping global value chains. These measures carry geopolitical risks — raising concerns about fairness, data requirements, and potential “green protectionism” — yet they also accelerate decarbonisation, traceability, and responsible sourcing. For businesses and governments, sustainable trade is no longer optional: compliance, credible data, and resilient supply chains are now prerequisites for competitiveness and continued market access.