The representative of China emphasized the importance of financing trade in commodities.

Also, stronger institutions supporting commodity finance (collateral management agencies, commodity exchanges) are needed, and UNCTAD has been instrumental in setting up several such entities.

Commodities

On commodity finance, UNCTAD gave several training courses in Egypt and Tunisia during 2004.

Commodities on the Rise

Commodities

For many commodity dependent developing countries, the negative impact of commodity finance related market entry barriers needed to be addressed.

57 236. Commodities

58 204. Commodities

61 190. Commodities

59 224. Commodities

55 183. Commodities

Latin America s Commodity Windfall

Item 3 Commodities and development

One suggestion was to include commodity finance within corporate social responsibility programmes of multinational companies and to take account of commodity issues during the Fifth UN Conference to Review the Set of Principles and Rules on RBPs.

Commodity prices fell, too.

Improving the Management of the Commodity Sector

We emphasize the need to address the impact of weak and volatile commodity prices and support the efforts of commodity dependent countries to restructure, diversify and strengthen the competitiveness of their commodity sectors.

Poverty alleviation 991.4 991.4 83.1 1 074.5

The support to stabilization of commodity prices through the financing of buffer stocks, as foreseen in the Agreement, has not become operational.

Recycling commodity revenue and managing macro level commodity related risks

(b) Continuing the diversification of the commodity sector and enhancing its competitiveness in developing countries that are heavily dependent on commodities

International commodity markets are under stress.

Of course, not all commodities are equal.

The Silver Lining in High Commodity Prices

Expert Meeting on Dynamic and New Sectors of World Trade

Expert Meeting on Methodologies, Classifications, Quantification and Development Impacts of

Expert Meeting on Strengthening Participation of Developing Countries in Dynamic and

Conclusion 17

He also expressed appreciation for the secretariat's analysis of commodity finance mechanisms and to development partners for their support for such schemes in Asia.

Aside from importing basic goods, China exports manufactured goods throughout the region.

(b) Continuing the diversification of the commodity sector and enhancing its competitiveness in developing countries that are heavily dependent on commodities

The EU appreciated the efforts made by UNCTAD to promote the issue of commodity finance, and the approach suggested in the secretariat's background paper was very appropriate.

How can measures to increase commodity price stability and returns from commodity exports contribute to achieving the Millennium Development Goals?

The Global Implications of Falling Commodity Prices

Unstable prices for commodities were a serious issue.

UN Comtrade

Commission on International Trade in Goods and Services, and Commodities

Trade institution building commodity exchanges and risk management

Commodity information reducing asymmetries

Growth driven by high commodity prices is also susceptible to busts, for similar reasons. Commodity prices tend to move in cycles.

At the international level, strategic information on commodity sectors enhances global transparency and improves commodity strategies and policies.

The Commission, under agenda item 3, would examine how access to commodity trade finance affected the competitiveness and market entry capacities of developing countries, especially commodity dependent ones.

But, as China grows increasingly dependent on imports of resource commodities to meet its basic needs, its coast will continue to enjoy a transport cost advantage.

The ninth session of the Commission on Trade in Goods and Services, and Commodities (March 2005) discussed the role of trade and investment in facilitating market entry for commodities.