On 11 June 2026, UNCTAD and the Forum on Trade, Environment, & the SDGs (TESS) will convene the first meeting of an Expert Group on trade, critical minerals, and the clean energy transition, focusing on sustainability, development, and security objectives.
The meeting will be held amid rising tensions at the intersection of trade, critical minerals, and the clean energy transition, where growing demand and concentrated supply chains are reshaping global dynamics. It aims to discuss challenges faced by resource-rich developing countries in leveraging opportunities for value addition and industrialization in the context of constrained policy space and trade fragmentation. Against this backdrop, the meeting provides a dedicated platform for more coherent, trade-focused dialogue on international cooperation.
Objective of the meeting
To explore how trade can support resilient supply chains, promote sustainable and inclusive development, and contribute effectively to the global clean energy transition.
Format and participants
The event will be held virtually.
The meeting convenes a small group of international experts from policy, research, and stakeholder communities to contribute independent, high-level insights.
