10 February 2026 | OECD Conference Centre, Paris

Christine Tacon spoke at the OECD Sustainable Terms of Trade Initiative (STTI) Roundtable in Paris, contributing to international discussions on responsible purchasing practices in the garment and footwear sector.

The invitation-only event, held at the OECD Conference Centre, brought together policymakers, industry practitioners and experts to exchange good practice, examine implementation challenges, and explore effective regulatory approaches aligned with the OECD Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible Supply Chains in the Garment and Footwear Sector.

Drawing on her experience as the UK’s first Groceries Code Adjudicator, Christine shared insights into how regulatory oversight can support fairer purchasing practices and more balanced relationships across supply chains. She was joined by David Ward, Tesco’s Code Compliance Officer, offering practical perspectives from business as the sector considers how similar regulatory frameworks might be designed and implemented.

Discussions built on previous OECD roundtables and workshops, with a particular focus on lessons from the agri-food sector. Participants explored enforcement mechanisms, tools to support responsible purchasing practices, and opportunities for greater harmonisation and collaboration while safeguarding confidentiality.

Christine’s contribution highlighted the importance of clarity, accountability and proportionate enforcement in creating an enabling environment for responsible purchasing practices that fairly distribute risk and responsibility across the value chain.