Diversitätsauflagen

Diversitätsauflagen, also known as diversity provisions, are a type of contract clause that aims to promote diversity and inclusion in various industries, particularly in the field of international business and trade. These provisions are often included in free trade agreements (FTAs) and are designed to encourage countries to promote diversity in their procurement practices, public tendering processes, and government contracts.

The main goal of diversitätsauflagen is to ensure that government contracts and private sector business deals are not dominated by a single country or a limited number of countries. By promoting diversity, these provisions aim to create more opportunities for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), particularly from developing countries, to participate in global markets.

Diversitätsauflagen typically require countries to implement specific measures to promote diversity, such as:

* Obliging governments to allocate a certain percentage of their contracts to SMEs or companies from developing countries

* Encouraging countries to simplify their procurement procedures and reduce bureaucratic hurdles

* Implementing measures to remove any systemic barriers that may prevent small businesses or diverse suppliers from participating in public tenders

The inclusion of diversitätsauflagen in FTAs has been widely debated among trade experts and officials. Some argue that these provisions can help to promote small business development and economic growth in emerging markets, while others raise concerns about their enforceability and potential impact on trade balances.

Examples of FTAs that include diversitätsauflagen can be found in various international agreements, such as the European Union's Generalised System of Preferences (GSP) and the United States' African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA).