trade

Trade protectionism in rich countries hurts poor nations, UN survey finds

8 December 2003
Trade protectionism in wealthy countries, especially policies that target agriculture and textiles from the South, is the biggest threat to the people of poorer countries, according to the United Nations annual World Economic and Social Survey, released today in New York.

Failure of Cancún talks could prove a blessing in disguise, UN trade official says

30 October 2003
The failure of the recent Cancún summit to reach a deal on trade could actually provide a good base to re-start international negotiations, the head of a United Nations trade body told a meeting this week.

UN trade law office should help countries deal with globalization - legal counsel

8 October 2003
The United Nations body charged with harmonizing international trade law must be strengthened so that all countries and businesses, large and small, will be able to participate on an equal legal footing in trade talks in the era of globalization, the UN legal counsel said.

Spotlighting downturns, UN agency challenges current economic wisdom

2 October 2003
The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), in its annual world economic forecast released today, challenged industrialized countries struggling to get out of a slump to coordinate growth policies, increase global demand and head off the threat of deflation.

Focus on getting trade talks back on track, Annan tells Group of 77

25 September 2003
United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan today urged the Group of 77 developing countries to focus on getting international trade negotiations "back on track" despite setbacks in the World Trade Organization (WTO) talks in Mexico earlier this month.

UN agency calls for resumption of trade talks following Cancún collapse

18 September 2003
The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) today called for informal contacts to resume trade talks after Sunday’s collapse of a major conference, declaring a fair and open world market to be in the interests of rich and poor alike but stressing that developing states must have a better chance to sell their produce.

WTO disappointed by Cancún setback, pledges to put trade talks back on track

15 September 2003
The head of the World Trade Organization (WTO) has pledged to put negotiations for freer trade back on track after a deadlock crippled a major ministerial conference that ended yesterday, saying he was disappointed but not downhearted.

Annan urges 'determined' resumption of deadlocked world trade talks

15 September 2003
Voicing regret at the deadlock in the latest round of world free trade talks, United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan today called on all concerned to "come back in a determined fashion" to reach an agreement within the next year or so.
Pineapples produced in developing countries

UN makes new appeal for rich countries to end trade practices hurting poor

11 September 2003
Adding its voice to Secretary-General Kofi Annan’s plea for a fair agricultural trade deal for the world’s poorest countries, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) today appealed to rich nations to dismantle tariff barriers and cut subsidies, calling it “vital” for food security in developing countries.

Rich states must end agriculture subsidies to bring free trade to poor – UN official

10 September 2003
With world trade talks opening in Cancún, Mexico, today, a senior United Nations official has called on rich nations to eliminate the estimated billion dollars a day in agricultural subsidies that “grossly undermines” the future of millions of people in the least developed countries.