Multiple challenges impede landlocked developing countries to achieve inclusive growth and advancing structural transformation. The situation is particularly precarious among African economies.
Over 90% of exports from African landlocked developing countries (LLDCs) concentrates on raw materials. Yet, their contribution to global trade remains limited at 0.2%. At the same time, international rules, regulations and environmental standards are adversely impacting the trade and development prospects of LLDCs.
Newly proposed international regulations can further complicate LLDCs’ access to one of the main export markets, by acting as a potential non-trade barrier. To address their development predicaments, LLDCs need to build their domestic productive capacities, and move away from low value-added to high value-added production and supply structures, which will enable them to play a greater role in international trade.
The side event’s aim is to exchange views on the potential trade and development impact of international regulations and standards on LLDCs and to seek solutions how to best mitigate the adverse impacts.
It will provide opportunities to share experiences and best practices on fostering productive capacities and enhancing export diversification and structural transformation in LLDCs in line with the key provisions of the new Programme of Action for LLDCs (Priority Area 1).
To facilitate the deliberations and emphasise the impact of international standards on export opportunities of key developing countries, UN Trade and Development and CFC will present preliminary findings of a study examining the impact on selected African LLDCs.
The objective is to build consensus on how to mitigate the impacts of international standards on LLDCs’ economies and to examine ways and means of addressing challenges related to building productive capacities and diversifying exports.
