Supports UNCTAD work on non-tariff barriers, commodities, environmental products, trade in services, and South-South commerce
A major UNCTAD commission said on 23 March that the resumed Doha round of international trade talks should lead to a balanced and development-oriented outcome that helps the world´s poorer nations to expand their economies and raise living standards -- and expressed concern that non-tariff barriers are an increasing obstacle as such countries try to boost their exports.
The Commission on Trade in Goods and Services, and Commodities, which carries out an annual review of trends in trade as they affect developing countries, also said the broad-based international programme called Aid for Trade -- which is intended to help developing nations assemble the infrastructure, skills, and other capabilities needed to compete effectively in the highly liberalized markets expected to result from a Doha agreement -- should receive sufficient and even expanded funding and related support.
The Commission, which helps set the tone for future UNCTAD work, said UNCTAD should continue and strengthen programmes in the topical areas of World Trade Organization (WTO) negotiations and accession for developing countries; the economic dependence of developing countries on exports of commodities, and how to reduce such dependence; the growing field of environmental products and services; the expansion of trade in services, including in regional agreements; and the rapidly growing exchanges of goods among developing countries, widely known as South-South trade.
The group began its five-day session on 19 March.
Member States agreed at the meeting that a comprehensive Aid for Trade package is essential for boosting the development benefits that may flow from the Doha work programme and for addressing the economic and social costs and adjustments necessitated by trade reforms. The Commission said UNCTAD should continue its contributions towards a successful carrying-out of Aid for Trade.
The Commission said non-tariff barriers (NTBs) risk neutralizing the gains of tariff liberalization, particularly for products of export interest to developing countries. It welcomed UNCTAD´s innovative work on NTBs.
The complex of issues related to commodities -- dependence on commodities among many African countries, least-developed countries (LDCs), and countries with economies in transition; the need for such nations to diversify their economies; and the volatility of commodities prices, including energy prices -- led the Commission to say that UNCTAD should continue to promote international cooperation and partnerships in this field, and to provide advice and assistance to developing countries. The Commission also called for further attention to the development and trade-related aspects of commodities issues.
Environmental matters as they relate to trade and development were highlighted at the meeting. The Commission agreed among other things that UNCTAD should continue to strengthen its BioTrade programme.
The group emphasized the need to build and support the capacity of developing countries to provide services and expand trade in services at the multilateral and regional levels.
And the Commission agreed that UNCTAD should increase its focus on South-South trade in commodities, services, and new and dynamic sectors of world trade, as well as expanding its focus on the Global System of Trade Preferences (GSTP). The recent UNCTAD-Philips initiative on electronics in Southern Africa was welcomed, and developing countries at the meeting encouraged UNCTAD and interested corporations to consider carrying out similar initiatives in other parts of Africa and in other developing countries.
In parallel to the Trade Commission, the second annual conference of the Global Network of Export-Import Banks and development Finance Institutions agreed to carry out practical, effective activities in support of South-South trade financing and investment.
