News

UNCTAD reflects on the past two years of the pandemic to derive valuable lessons for the future.

Countries aim to protect the iconic queen conch, build a sustainable ocean economy and provide tangible benefits to people working in the region’s seafood value chains.

The pandemic has posed challenges but also created opportunities for workers and businesses producing and selling biodiversity-based goods and services.

By Kweku Attafuah-Wadee, Lalen Lleander and Henrique Pacini, UNCTAD Economists

The world’s poorest nations face many obstacles, including soaring debt, export marginalization, energy poverty and climate vulnerability.

UNCTAD’s rapid assessment of the war’s impact on trade and development shows a rapidly worsening outlook for the world economy, with the situation especially alarming for African and least developed countries.

Graduation presents an opportunity for the countries to develop strategies that can position the textile and clothing sector higher up the global value chain.

But the world’s largest free trade area needs measures to boost productivity and expand opportunities.

COVID-19 has highlighted the gaps in existing multilateral and regional trade agreements in terms of ensuring protection and resilience during a global or regional crisis.

As multilateralism fails to provide many developing countries with the tools they need to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, regional cooperation offers hope to building back better.