Duties of Editors
Fair Play and Editorial Independence
Editors at the International Journal of Foreign Trade and International Business Upgradation (IJFTIBU) evaluate submitted manuscripts solely on the basis of their academic merit—such as relevance, originality, clarity, and methodological soundness—and their alignment with the journal’s focus areas, including foreign trade, international business, global economics, trade policy, and commerce. Editorial decisions are not influenced by authors’ race, gender, sexual orientation, ethnic origin, nationality, religion, political views, or institutional affiliation. The Editor-in-Chief retains full independence and authority over all editorial content and decisions regarding publication, ensuring that academic integrity and scholarly relevance remain paramount.

Confidentiality
Editors will treat all submitted manuscripts as confidential documents. No information about a submitted manuscript will be disclosed to anyone other than the corresponding author, reviewers, potential reviewers, and the publisher, as appropriate. Editorial staff and board members must not use any unpublished information from submitted manuscripts for their own research or commercial advantage without express written consent from the authors.

Disclosure and Conflicts of Interest
Editors and editorial board members will not exploit any unpublished data or ideas obtained through the manuscript review process for personal benefit. They must recuse themselves from handling manuscripts in which they have a conflict of interest—whether due to competitive, collaborative, financial, or institutional relationships with any of the authors or associated entities (e.g., international trade organizations, consulting firms, or policy groups). Such manuscripts will be reassigned to an impartial editorial board member.

Publication Decisions
All manuscripts considered for publication undergo peer review by at least two qualified experts in international business, economics, or trade studies. Final publication decisions are based on the significance of the work to the journal’s readership, validity of findings, and reviewers’ recommendations. The Editor-in-Chief ensures compliance with ethical and legal standards related to copyright, defamation, and plagiarism, and may consult with other editors or reviewers in reaching a final decision.

Involvement and Cooperation in Investigations
Editors, in coordination with the publisher, will actively investigate any ethical concerns or allegations of misconduct related to submitted or published manuscripts. All cases of unethical publishing behavior—such as plagiarism, data falsification, or duplicate submission—will be thoroughly examined, regardless of when they are discovered. When appropriate, corrections, retractions, or statements of concern will be issued. The IJFTIBU adheres to COPE (Committee on Publication Ethics) guidelines during such investigations.

Duties of Reviewers
Contribution to Editorial Decisions
Peer review is fundamental to maintaining academic standards. Reviewers assist editors in evaluating manuscripts and provide constructive feedback to authors, particularly concerning the study’s relevance to international trade, business strategy, or economic policy. IJFTIBU encourages all scholars in the field to contribute to the peer review process as part of their responsibility toward the academic community.

Promptness
Reviewers who feel unqualified to evaluate a manuscript or anticipate delays must notify the editorial office immediately and decline the invitation, allowing timely reassignment. Timely peer review ensures the swift dissemination of critical insights in global trade and business development.

Confidentiality
All manuscripts received for review must be treated as confidential. Reviewers should not share or discuss the content with others unless explicitly authorized by the Editor-in-Chief. This standard applies even to reviewers who decline the invitation. Such confidentiality safeguards innovative models, case studies, and strategic frameworks shared within submissions.

Standards of Objectivity
Review comments should be unbiased and supported by clear arguments. Critiques must focus on the content—such as methodology, theoretical frameworks, data interpretation, or policy relevance—rather than the authors. Constructive suggestions should aim to enhance the clarity, rigor, and academic contribution of the work.

Acknowledgment of Sources
Reviewers should identify any important references or data the authors may have omitted. Any resemblance to previously published work should be reported to the editor. Substantial overlap, plagiarism, or lack of citation for existing literature must be flagged to uphold academic honesty.

Disclosure and Conflicts of Interest
Reviewers must declare any conflicts of interest and decline the review if impartiality cannot be guaranteed. This includes associations with competing institutions, companies, or authors. Additionally, reviewers must not use unpublished content for their own benefit or share privileged information obtained during the peer review process.

Duties of Authors
Reporting Standards
Authors should present a truthful, clear, and complete account of their research, including data sources, methodologies, and interpretations. Whether focused on trade policies, international market dynamics, or business performance metrics, manuscripts must offer sufficient detail to enable replication or validation.

Data Access and Retention
Authors may be requested to share raw data or supplementary materials for editorial review and validation. Wherever possible, authors should make datasets publicly available in repositories or retain them for a minimum of ten years, in accordance with data protection laws and confidentiality agreements.

Originality and Plagiarism
Manuscripts must represent original work. All references, data, and borrowed ideas must be appropriately cited. Plagiarism in any form—whether literal copying or unacknowledged paraphrasing—is considered unethical and will result in rejection or retraction.

Multiple, Duplicate, or Redundant Submissions
Authors should not submit the same manuscript to multiple journals simultaneously or publish duplicate content without appropriate justification and transparency. Secondary publication is only permissible under specific conditions with prior approval from all parties involved.

Authorship Criteria
Only individuals who have made significant contributions to the study’s conception, execution, and interpretation should be listed as authors. All listed authors must approve the final version and agree to its submission. Others who contributed but do not meet authorship criteria should be acknowledged with their permission.

Disclosure and Conflicts of Interest
All potential conflicts of interest must be disclosed, including funding, affiliations, or commercial relationships (e.g., partnerships with multinational firms or involvement in trade policy formulation). A funding statement should accompany all submissions.

Acknowledgment of Sources
All borrowed data, theories, or prior research must be properly cited. Authors must obtain written permission for the use of any confidential or third-party material not in the public domain.

Hazards and Ethical Compliance
Where applicable, authors must declare that their research complies with institutional, national, or international regulations—especially for studies involving proprietary business data, surveys, or economic experiments involving human participants.

Participation in Peer Review
Authors must cooperate fully in the peer review process, respond to comments, and make required revisions in a timely manner. If revisions are requested, a detailed response to each reviewer comment should be provided.

Fundamental Errors in Published Work
If an author discovers significant errors in their published work, they must notify the editorial office promptly to issue a correction or retraction. Similarly, if the editors are informed of possible errors, authors are expected to cooperate in resolving the matter.

Duties of the Publisher
Handling of Unethical Publishing Practices
In collaboration with the editorial board, the publisher of International Journal of Foreign Trade and International Business Upgradation will investigate all instances of unethical publishing practices, including fabrication, plagiarism, and duplicate publication. Where misconduct is confirmed, the publisher will issue retractions, corrections, or expressions of concern as appropriate. The publisher also ensures systems are in place to prevent misconduct and does not condone any form of unethical academic behavior.