News

• Trade facilitation reforms are moving forward, but reported progress can overstate what is happening at borders.
• In 89% of assessed cases, official notifications did not fully reflect national implementation realities.
• Monitoring and evaluation remain among the biggest capacity gaps for national trade facilitation committees.
• Stronger committees can help countries reduce delays, respond to shocks and build more resilient supply chains.

By Luz Maria de la Mora, Director of the Division on International Trade and Commodities, UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD)

• Ocean-related services now account for 58% of total ocean trade.
• Tourism, maritime transport and ports services are driving the shift.
• Small island developing states and coastal developing countries can capture more value through sustainable ocean and blue economy strategies.

• New UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD) report shows how Madagascar can turn minerals into jobs and industries
• 124 priority products identified across eight sectors
• Women account for about 52% of direct employment in priority sectors

• A sustained oil price surge could add more than $20 billion a year to the oil import bill of vulnerable economies that depend on imported fuel.
• Nearly 1 billion people live in countries highly exposed to rising fuel costs.
• Least developed countries and small island developing states are greatly exposed to the oil shock.
• The third edition of a new UNCTAD monitoring series tracks the rising oil import costs linked to the Strait of Hormuz disruptions.

UNCTAD is supporting sustainable arabica coffee in Lao PDR, Thailand and Viet Nam to strengthen exports, improve livelihoods and protect ecosystems as global markets demand greener production.

• Investment in clean energy can create opportunities for local jobs, skills or industrial capacity, but these benefits are not automatic.
• Many older investment treaties were designed before climate transition became a policy priority.
• Some treaty provisions may limit governments’ flexibility to support domestic capabilities linked to renewable industries.
• The next global divide may be between countries that attract investment and those that turn it into technology and know-how.

Infrastructure and products linked to artificial intelligence helped drive merchandise trade growth in 2025 and early 2026. Outside these sectors, momentum remained modest.

• Global growth is expected to ease in 2026.
• Trade is still resilient, but AI-related sectors are masking weaker momentum elsewhere.
• Food security is becoming a financial stability concern.
• Developing economies face capital outflow risks and tighter financing conditions.
• Clean energy, predictable trade and stronger financial safeguards can reduce future exposure.