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The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD)
is the focal point within the United Nations for the integrated
treatment of trade and development and inter-related issues in the
areas of finance, technology, investment, and sustainable development.
UNCTAD is a permanent intergovernmental conference and was established
in 1964 as a subsidiary body of the United Nations General Assembly.
UNCTAD has its secretariat in Geneva and is headed by Secretary-General
Rubens Ricupero of Brazil.
| UNCTAD
promotes commodity diversification and commodity-based development |
UNCTAD is intended to serve as a forum for the examination of these
issues and to encourage consensus-building for reformulation of
policies. Its intergovernmental meetings, analytical and research
work, and technical cooperation programs are designed to play a
role in helping developing countries, in particular the least developed
countries (LDCs), and economies in transition, better understand
how to design policies for an efficient integration into the world
economy.
Ministerial Conferences
UNCTAD's work program is set every four years at a Ministerial-level
conference. Ten plenary sessions of the conference have been held:
the first in Geneva in 1964, followed by UNCTAD II in New Delhi
in 1968, UNCTAD III in Santiago in 1972, UNCTAD IV in Nairobi in
1976, UNCTAD V in Manila in 1979, UNCTAD VI in Belgrade in 1983,
UNCTAD VII in Geneva in 1987, UNCTAD VIII in Cartegena in 1992,
and UNCTAD IX in Midrand, South Africa in 1996.
The Bangkok "Plan of Action"
The most recent ministerial conference, UNCTAD X, was held in Bangkok,
Thailand from 12 to 19 February, 2000. The Bangkok "Plan of
Action" included an evaluation of the developmental impact
of globalization, stocktaking of major international initiatives
and developments as well as recommendations for measures and initiatives
to be undertaken by the international community. The Plan of Action
also details UNCTAD's work program for its subprograms including:
globalization, interdependence, and development; investment, enterprise,
and technology; international trade; services infrastructure, trade
efficiency, and human resources development; least developed countries,
land-locked developing countries, and small island developing states.
Finally, the Plan also articulates the basis upon which UNCTAD should
undertake technical cooperation programs with a major emphasis on
capacity-building activities.
UNCTAD's Secretariat Structure
UNCTAD's subprograms are mirrored in its secretariat structure.
The division on globalization and development strategies (GDS) examines
and analyzes trends in the global economy as well as drawing lessons
from specific development challenges and successful experiences
of developing countries and economies in transition. The Division
on International Trade in Goods and Services, and Commodities (DITC)
assists developing countries in their efforts to integrate effectively
into the international trading system. DITC also analyzes the impact
of the Uruguay Round Agreements on trade and development and assists
countries in enhancing their export capabilities. The focus of the
division on Investment, Technology, and Enterprise Development (DITE)
is to examine global trends in foreign direct investment and to
analyze policies and mechanisms that support the development of
micro, small and medium-sized enterprises. DITE's staff also undertake
science, technology, and innovation policy reviews to identify policy
options for international action. SITE or the Division of Services
Infrastructure for Development and Trade Efficiency helps developing
countries and economies in transition improve the operations of
trade-supporting services including customs, maritime programs,
cargo information and multimodal transport systems. The Office of
the Least Developed, Land-locked and Island Developing Countries
coordinates UNCTAD's work on least developed countries. The office
is the focal point for the United Nation's efforts to assist LDCs
and will lead the preparation for the Third United Nations Conference
on the Least Developed Countries to be held in 2001. The Coordinator's
office also helps implement the Barbados Programme of Action for
the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States, and
the Global Framework for Transit Transport cooperation Between Land-Locked
and Transit Developing Countries and the Donor Community.
The Trade and Development Board
Between sessions of the quadrennial conference, UNCTAD's governing
body, the Trade and Development Board (TDB), holds regular annual
sessions each autumn in Geneva to review UNCTAD's various activities.
As part of its standing agenda, the TDB examines interdependence
and global economic trends as addressed in the annual "Trade
and Development Report." The Board also considers the question
of UNCTAD's contribution to the implementation of the United Nation's
"New Agenda for the Development of Africa." The UNCTAD
secretariat prepares and issues an analytical report dealing with
aspects of Africa's economic performance and prospects which serves
as a basis for the Board's deliberations. Finally, the Board also
reviews the work of UNCTAD's intergovernmental meetings convened
throughout the year including the expert meetings, commission sessions
as well as technical cooperation activities, and cooperation with
other international organizations. At present, the Board is comprised
of 144 member states and is open to all UNCTAD members.
In addition to its annual session, the Trade and Development Board
may hold up to three one-day executive sessions per year to address
urgent policy or management issues. Membership in the Trade and
Development Board is open to all UNCTAD members.
Commissions and Expert Meetings
UNCTAD has three standing commissions that were established after
UNCTAX IX in Midrand, South Africa: Trade in Goods and Service;
Commodities; Investment, Technology, and Related Financial Issues;
and, Enterprise, Business Facilitation, and Development. The Commissions
usually meet once a year for five days. In addition, the Commissions
convene up to ten expert meetings a year. These sessions examine
issues in depth and participants provide expertise on policy issues
under consideration by the Commissions. Where appropriate, UNCTAD
invites experts from academia and business to participate as panelists
in sessions of expert meetings and Commissions.
Research, Analysis, and Major Publications
UNCTAD disseminates its research and analysis through its three
major annual reports as well as occasional publications and analytical
databases. The "Trade and Development Report" analyzes
and proposes development strategies pertaining to current global
economic performance, regional trends and the internationalization
of trade, investment and financial flows. The "World Investment
Report" details research on trends in foreign direct investment
(FDI) worldwide and proposes policy recommendations to further FDI
as an important element for development. The "Least Developed
Countries Report" serves as the United Nations' most comprehensive
and authoritative source of socio-economic analysis and data on
the 48 LDCs and identifies major challenges and international support
measures concerning these countries. Other major publications include
UNCTAD's "Handbook of International Trade and Development Statistics,"
whose analyses covers basic indicators of development, such as per
capita GDP and growth rates.
Technical Cooperation
Providing technical assistance to developing countries and countries
in transition is the third major element of UNCTAD's work. In 2000,
over 300 projects were being implemented in more than 100 countries,
for an annual delivery of approximately US $24 million. UNCTAD's
technical assistance activities are funded primarily through voluntary
contributions from individual countries, foundations and other international
organizations, including the World Bank and the UN Development Program.
In accordance with UNCTAD X's adopted recommendations, the organization's
technical cooperation program should be focused on: capacity-building
to assist developing countries integrate into the global economy;
assistance to assisting developing countries to prepare for multilateral
trade negotiations, to implement the results and to support cooperation
among developing countries at the subregional, regional and interregional
levels.
UNCTAD X also reaffirmed the previously adopted principle that LDCs
should have priority in the assistance provided by UNCTAD. Member
states also determined that the effectiveness and impact of UNCTAD's
technical cooperation should be strengthened as an essential complement
to the institution's policy-oriented analytical and deliberative
work.
The following are examples of UNCTADS technical cooperation
programs:
TRAINS (Trade Analysis and Information System)
TRAINS is a PC-based system of databases to provide comprehensive
information on trade flows, tariffs, non-tariff measures, trade
rules and restrictions, details of the GSP, and the names of importers.
The system includes information on 86 markets, representing over
85 percent of world trade. Intended for use by exporters, policy-makers,
and trade negotiators, as well as academics and researchers, TRAINS
is available on CD-rom in regularly updated editions.
Generalized System of Preferences (GSP)
Intergovernmental negotiations held under the auspices of UNCTAD
resulted in the adoption of the Generalized System of Preferences
(GSP) whereby preferential tariff treatment is granted on a non-reciprocal
and nondiscriminatory basis by most developed countries to exports
from developing countries. The project's goals include assisting
developing countries to increase their awareness of the potential
for trade expansion arising from GSP schemes and to increase their
capabilities to make use of these schemes.
AMAD (Agricultural Market Access Database)
Agricultural Market Access Database is a cooperative effort by
the Agriculture and AgriFood Canada, EU Commission - Agriculture
Directorate-General, the Food and Agriculture Organization of
the United Nations, the Organization of Economic Cooperation and
Development, the World Bank, UNCTAD, and the Economic Research
Service of the United States Department of Agriculture. This database
includes a broad set of information such as bound tariff quota
volumes, scheduled MFN tariff rates, world reference prices, and
primary product equivalent factors. The current database includes
information on 50 countries and is updated annually.
Technical assistance on issues relating to the multilateral trading
system
This program focuses on capacity-building in trade policy formulation
and implementation; identification and treatment of current and
pending international and trade issues; assistance to countries
acceding to the WTO;
Integrated Program of Technical Assistance for Africa
This program aims to enhance the development prospects and competitiveness
of African countries through increased participation in international
trade. It emphasizes human resource development and institutional
capacity-building, and the strengthening of export supply capabilities.
Debt Management and Financial Analysis System (DMFAS)
DMFAS is a computer-based debt management system assists developing
countries and countries in transition develop appropriate administrative,
institutional and legal structures for effective foreign and domestic
pubic debt management.
Automated System for Customs Data (ASYCUDA)
Applying state-of-the art technology, the ASYCUDA system assists
governments to reform and modernize customs procedures and management.
The system is used by more than 60 counties and is recognized
as one of the standard tools used for customs automation.
Advance Cargo Information System (ACIS)
ACIS provides a tool-box of computer applications designed to
produce management and tracking information to address multimodal
cargo transit and transport issues. ACIS assists African countries
in developing their transport sector, using computer technology
to track cargo along land and sea routes. The United States Agency
for International Development has co-financed an ACIS project
in Southern Africa.
Commodity marketing and price risk management
Inter-country and country-level workshops increase developing
countries' knowledge of export marketing; further understanding
of commodity price risks and capacity to formulate risk management
policies and instruments; and encourage the growth of commodity
exchanges.
International Investment Agreements
Activities in this area include country workshops on issues related
to international investment agreements. It also involves assistance
to countries in issues such as: the organization of bilateral
investment treaty or double taxation treaty negotiations; the
formulation of regional investment agreements; and in the conceptualization
and formulation of national positions vis-…-vis bilateral
treaty partners and/or regional integration partners.
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Greenhouse
Gas Emissions Trading Project
UNCTAD's work on greenhouse gas emissions trading started
in 1991. The goal of the project is to reduce the impact of
climate change by helping foster the development of an integrated
global emissions trading system in which all countries would
participate based on the accepted principle of common but
differentiated responsibilities.
Emissions trading is part of the market-based
approach adopted by states parties to the United Nations Framework
Convention on Climate Change at the historic Kyoto conference
in 1997. The Kyoto Protocol authorizes four cooperative implementation
mechanisms. These are: bubbles, emissions trading, joint implementation,
and the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM). Under the Kyoto
Protocol, emissions trading allows trading of 'assigned amounts'
among Annex B Parties, mostly industrialized countries. Authorized
by Article 17, the provision leaves the crafting of implementation
details to subsequent conferences.
The Clean Development Mechanism allows a form
of credits trading between developed and developing countries.
This form of emissions trading is project-based rather than
quota-based. Trades of credits earned from projects which
are proven to reduce additional emissions can be banked from
year 2000 for use during the first commitment period. UNCTAD
is involved in research to foster the development of rules
and modalities with regard to both international emissions
trading and credits trading. In addition to its research work,
UNCTAD has recently initiated a significant training and capacity
building effort, with a focus on developing countries and
countries in transition.
UNCTAD has also been active in expediting the development
of a pilot emissions trading market, in order to learn from
early experience. In June 1997, UNCTAD joined forces with
the Earth Council to create the Greenhouse Gas Emissions Trading
Policy Forum.
The Policy Forum has spurred two initiatives:
1.) The International Emissions Trading Association
(IETA), an independent, non-profit organization which brings
together companies, business organizations and trading associations
to share information and practical experiences on emissions
trading.
2.) The development of a plurilateral emissions
trading system based on the establishment of a network of
bilateral and plurilateral arrangements among countries with
domestic emissions trading regimes.
Greenhouse Gas Emissions Trading project
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US Participation in UNCTAD
The United States views UNCTAD as a useful intergovernmental forum
to address the topical issues in trade and development. Through
its assessed contribution to the United Nations General Assembly,
the United States finances one quarter of UNCTAD's regular budget.
In addition, the U.S. government has contributed funds to selected
technical cooperation activities. Over the past decade the U.S.
government has stressed the need to improve UNCTAD's overall management
to ensure more timely delivery of the organization's research and
analysis publications. U.S. government policy has also emphasized
enhancement of UNCTAD's intergovernmental deliberations by encouraging
the secretariat to include in substantive panel discussions private
sector participants which have extensive field experience in Geneva-based
and regional meetings.
The United States supported strongly many aspects of UNCTAD X's
final outcomes, particularly the stress upon the need to for UNCTAD
to improve its overall management as well as to provide sufficient
staff and adequate resources for the Office of the Special Coordinator
for the Least Developed, Land-locked and Island Developing countries,
and Small Island Developing States. In addition, the United States
actively backed measures to promote improved efficiency in the implementation
of UNCTAD's technical cooperation activities so that the organization's
capacity-building programs can make a real difference in recipient
countries.
Membership: In August 2000, UNCTAD had 190 members. (This
number included all UN members plus the Holy See, Monaco, Switzerland,
and Tonga.)
Budget: UNCTAD has an annual operational budget of approximately
$ US 50 million which is drawn from the United Nations regular budget.
Internet
www.unctad.org
General description of UNCTAD and its programs, current press releases,
and selected publications.
Address
UNCTAD
Palais des Nations
8-14, avenue de la Paix
CH-1211 Geneva 10
Tel. 907.1234
Fax. 907.0123
E-mail: ers@unctad.org
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