News

The Global System of Trade Preferences among Developing Countries (GSTP) is gaining new momentum as it moves from negotiation to implementation.

• Global goods trade expanded by an estimated 12.5% quarter over quarter in the first half of 2026, reaching about $13.7 trillion, supported in part by higher prices.
• East Asia recorded the strongest goods trade growth in the first quarter, well above the global average.
• AI- and electric vehicle-related products led goods trade growth, with further gains expected.
• World trade is expected to keep growing, but increasingly unevenly, amid rising geopolitical tensions and policy uncertainty.

Acting Secretary-General Moreno calls for the global energy transition to become a driver of sustainable development for mineral-rich developing countries, avoiding a repetition of past extractive models.

• The São Paulo Round Protocol of the Global System of Trade Preferences among Developing Countries (GSTP) is one ratification away from entering into force, marking a major milestone for South–South trade cooperation after almost two decades of negotiations and preparations.
• UNCTAD estimates that implementation could generate welfare gains of up to $14 billion and tariff reductions of at least 20% on about 6,000 products.
• Participating countries represent a market of around $18 trillion and more than 4 billion people.
• Members will meet in Geneva on 20 July 2026 to review progress and prepare for implementation.

• Commodities can drive growth, but over-reliance leaves economies vulnerable to shocks.
• Next step: Move beyond raw material exports by adding value and strengthening productive capacity.
• UNCTAD's new dashboard helps countries turn data into informed policy decisions.

• More than 400 participants from over 80 countries reaffirmed in Geneva the importance of international dialogue and peer learning to keep markets fair, competitive and safe.
• The United Nations Principles for Consumer Product Safety were officially launched, providing a new global framework to strengthen cooperation on product safety.
• Development-oriented competition policies are needed to support food security and build more resilient markets.
• Digital market challenges require stronger international cooperation and updated regulatory frameworks.

• Governments adopted a record 229 investment policy measures in 2025.
• Most measures remained favourable to investors, but increasingly targeted strategic sectors and national priorities.
• Incentives accounted for half of favourable measures, with growing focus on digital infrastructure, advanced manufacturing, energy-transition technologies and critical minerals.
• The number of economies with investment screening regimes rose from 21 in 2016 to 52 in 2025, while outright rejections remained rare.
• Old-generation investment agreements remain central to disputes, strengthening the case for reform that preserves policy space while maintaining predictability for investors.

• Strategic sectors accounted for 44% of global greenfield investment in 2025, up from 16% in 2020.
• The value of announced projects in these sectors rose from $109 billion to $576 billion over five years.
• In 2025, the top three investor economies accounted for 72% of strategic-sector project values, while the top three recipients captured 56%.
• Low-income and lower-middle-income economies attracted only about 10% of global greenfield investment in strategic sectors between 2020 and 2025, compared with more than 20% in other sectors.

• Foreign direct investment rose 14% to $188 billion in 2025.
• Brazil accounted for much of the increase, with inflows rising from $63 billion to $77 billion.
• The region's top 10 recipients captured 95% of regional inflows.
• The value of announced greenfield projects fell by about one-third, signalling a weaker pipeline of future productive projects.

• Developing Asia attracted $644 billion in foreign direct investment (FDI) in 2025, remaining the world's largest developing-region recipient.
• South-East Asia overtook East Asia as the region's largest recipient subregion.
• India recorded a 44% increase in inflows, helping drive growth in South Asia.
• FDI remains highly concentrated, with eight of the ten largest developing-economy recipients located in Asia.