IATP | UNCTAD XI Resource Center

Trade Observatory: News, documents, links and events for trade and development.

Ag Observatory: A resource center with news and information on agriculture in the U.S. and worldwide.

Water Observatory: Resources and documents focused on water development and protection.

IATP homepage: The portal to all of IATP's Web sites.

UNCTAD XI Takes Positive Steps Forward
The UN Conference on Trade and Development's Mid-Term Review collasped following demands by the US that trade policy development be dropped from the agency's mandate.

Read Martin Kohr's Report for Third World Network
Read US Ambassador Wallace's Statement on Eliminating Policy Dialogues

São Paulo - The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) meeting came to a close with developing countries continuing to stand together and demand fair trade policies from developed nations. A new initiative to address low agricultural commodity prices was a significant step forward, with the creation of a new Task Force on commodities.

Civil society organizations campaigned for an end to agricultural dumping and other fair trade policies, with an emphasis on a new set of rules making agriculture an engine of development.

NGOs Call for Broad Mandate
A group of nongovernmental organizations are concerned that UNCTAD is being pressured by a few industrialized nations to narrow its mandate to assist developing countries. The groups expressed these concerns during an April 22 hearing with UNCTAD officials in Geneva in preparation for the upcoming São Paulo ministerial.

Read IATP's press release (PDF)

Towards the Civil Society Forum at UNCTAD
In preparation for UNCTAD XI, civil society organizations have drafted a proposal that challenges the neoliberal model of the WTO and calls on the UNCTAD to address the root causes of underdevelopment.

Read the proposal

Fair Trade Symposium and Fair Trade Reception
Following up to the Cancun Fair Trade, IATP and World Vision Brazil, working with an international program committee have organized a Fair Trade Symposium and Fair Trade Reception, in São Paulo, June 16-17 during the UNCTAD XI conference. The Fair Trade reception will take place on June 17th 7:30-9:30 and features UNCTAD Secretary General Rubens Ricupero, Brazilian Minister of Agrarian Development Miguel Rossetto, São Paulo local officials, NGO leaders and other special guests.

IATP Presents Testimony to UNCTAD
For the Feb. 23 second hearing with civil society in Geneva in preparation for UNCTAD XI, IATP submitted testimony outlining why it believes UNCTAD meeting in São Paulo is important and what needs to happen to make it successful.

Read IATP's testimony (PDF)

Civil Society Forum at UNCTAD XI

United Nations Conference on Trade and Development official Web site

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