trade

A worker prunes trees on a farm in South Africa.
World Bank/Trevor Samson

Trade pact could boost Africa’s income by as much as $450 billion: World Bank

27 July 2020
Economic Development

The African Continental Free Trade Area represents a major opportunity for countries to boost growth, reduce poverty, broaden economic inclusion and help “expand opportunities for all Africans”, hailed a World Bank official on Monday, which if fully implemented, could boost regional income by around $450 billion.

Children walk through a damaged part of downtown Craiter in Aden, Yemen. The area was badly damaged by airstrikes in 2015 as the Houthi’s were driven out of the city by coalition forces.
OCHA/Giles Clarke

Wednesday’s Daily Brief: climate challenges for the Pacific, new global health tool, updates on Yemen, the Gulf and Somalia

15 May 2019
Climate and Environment

This Wednesday, top stories includes: the UN chief’s continued visit in the Pacific to raise awareness on the impacts of climate change; in Yemen, the fatal price that children are paying due to a conflict they did not cause; a new tool to track medical products worldwide; drought in Somalia; and updates on tensions in the Gulf.

Participants at the African Forum for National Trade Facilitation Committees, 2018, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
UNCTAD

Africa Forum aims to boost business, reduce costs, help countries trade out of poverty

28 November 2018
Economic Development

Better transport, logistics and foreign investment are essential to smooth the way for the African continent to reduce trade hurdles, according to the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD).

A cargo ship at the port of Ningbo, China.
IMO

Trade wars and protectionism threaten global shipping, warns UN agency

3 October 2018
Economic Development

Maritime trade is stronger than it’s been for five years, but “tit-for-tat” tariff battles and restructuring by shipping companies threaten to disrupt its role as a key player in global commerce, the UN said on Wednesday.

Photo: World Bank/Dana Smillie
World Bank/Dana Smillie

Poor maritime connectivity hurting weaker, smaller nations – UN report

25 October 2017
Economic Development

A United Nations report out Wednesday revealed the poor maritime connectivity continues to keep smaller and weaker economies from reaching world markets, highlighting the need for evidence-based improvements to trading systems and procedures to address these challenges.

Machakos District, Kenya - Kweka farmers group members display how seeds are stored between harvest and the next planting season to ensure food production will continue.
FAO/Christena Dowsett

Formal trade in Africa can improve region, prospects for women – UN agency reports

25 May 2017
Economic Development

Simplifying the requirements for a business license, offering incentives to tax payers, and tackling official corruption are among the recommendations by the United Nations agricultural organization to cut informal trade among African countries and boost economic prosperity, particularly for women.

World Trade Organization (WTO) Director-General Roberto Azevêdo announcing the WTO's trade growth projections at a press conference in Geneva.
WTO

Global trade to expand by 2.4 per cent in 2017 amid ‘deep’ geopolitical, economic uncertainty – WTO

12 April 2017
While forecasting that growth in the volume of global merchandise trade is expected to rebound this year from its weak performance in 2016, the World Trade Organization (WTO) today cautioned that “deep uncertainty” about near-term economic and policy developments in some countries raise the risk that trade activity could be stifled.
Cranes loading freighters on the Danube River, Bulgaria.
World Bank/Scott Wallace

Modest economic growth not an indication of revived global demand – UN report

17 January 2017
Economic Development

A modest global recovery is projected for 2017-18 should be seen as more of an indication of economic stabilization than a signal of a robust and sustained revival of global demand, a new United Nations economic report has found.

Trade agreements should mainstream human rights – UN expert urges

13 September 2016
A United Nations independent expert today called on States and Parliaments to ensure that all future trade agreements stipulate the primacy of human rights and to align existing treaties with the duty of States to fulfill binding human rights treaties and meet environmental and health goals.
Manufacturing of plywood - one of the types of wood-based panels - in Hainan province, China.
FAO/Arvydas Lebedys

Manufacturing growth expected to remain low in 2016 – UN report

6 September 2016
A new United Nations report has indicated that global manufacturing growth is expected to remain low in 2016 due to weakened financial support for productive activities.