The International Journal of Foreign Trade and International Business Upgradation (IJFTIBU) is committed to maintaining the highest standards of transparency, objectivity, and integrity in academic publishing. To uphold these values, all parties involved in the publication process—authors, reviewers, and editors—are required to disclose any potential conflicts of interest that may influence the evaluation, interpretation, or publication of submitted research.

For Authors:
Authors must disclose any financial, personal, or professional relationships that could be perceived to influence the research outcomes. This includes, but is not limited to:

1. Financial interests: Such as funding, sponsorships, employment, consultancy, stock ownership, paid advisory roles, royalties, or intellectual property (e.g., patents) related to international business, trade policies, or economic frameworks discussed in the manuscript.
2. Personal relationships: That might compromise objectivity in reporting or interpreting data.
3. Professional affiliations: Such as board memberships, consulting arrangements, or advisory roles with trade organizations, multinational corporations, government agencies, or policy think tanks that may benefit from the research findings.

All conflicts of interest must be disclosed during the submission process. Authors must also include a "Conflict of Interest Statement" in their manuscript. If no conflicts exist, the following declaration should be made:
“The authors declare no conflict of interest.”

For Reviewers:
Reviewers are expected to evaluate manuscripts objectively and disclose any actual or perceived conflicts of interest that may affect their judgment. These may include:

1. Personal or professional relationships with the authors.
2. Current or recent collaborations that could bias the review.
3. Competing research interests or institutional affiliations with entities that could benefit from the research.

If any such conflict arises, the reviewer should decline the review and notify the editorial office promptly to ensure a fair and impartial review process.

For Editors:
Editors involved in the decision-making process must recuse themselves from handling manuscripts where they have:

1. Financial relationships with the authors or affiliated institutions.
2. Involvement in the research, including participation in the design, execution, or funding.
3. Any personal or professional association that could influence editorial decisions.

In such cases, the manuscript will be reassigned to another editorial board member with no conflict of interest.

Managing Conflicts of Interest:
When a conflict of interest is identified—either during submission, review, or post-publication—the following actions will be taken:

1. Transparency: All declared conflicts will be disclosed in the published article.
2. Reassignment: If needed, the manuscript will be assigned to an alternate editor or reviewer to maintain impartiality.
3. Review and Oversight: The editorial board will assess the nature and severity of any reported conflict to ensure proper ethical handling.

Failure to disclose a conflict of interest may result in manuscript rejection, retraction, or other corrective actions as deemed necessary by the editorial board.

By enforcing this policy, the International Journal of Foreign Trade and International Business Upgradation ensures the integrity, fairness, and credibility of its editorial and peer review process—ultimately fostering trust in scholarly contributions to the field of global trade and international business research.