Challenges confronting PETRA: briefing paper

This independent briefing paper reflects on the challenges that PETRA has faced in fulfilling its remit to produce a research and development manifesto. As highlighted by the evidence submitted to PETRA and at its Sandpit research prioritisation exercise, the issues range across the multi-faceted intersection of trade and health research to the opportunities and limitations of working to ensure that population health is considered in current and future trade negotiations. Despite the difficulty in clarifying research priorities, those who have engaged with PETRA to date agreed on the need for future work to be collaborative, nurture cross-sectoral cooperation, and break down existing silos.