United States
United States Tariff Shockwaves: Impact on the Arab Region
Import Diversification and Trade Diversion: Insights From United States of America - China Trade Patterns
Energy Transition of Fishing Fleets: Opportunities and Challenges for Developing Countries
The review of NDCs conducted in this study shows surprising results. It reveals that major aquatic food exporters, i.e., India, the Kingdom of the Netherlands and Norway show no commitments on ocean or fisheries-related matters. In contrast, Canada, Chile and the Russian Federation have committed to protecting ocean space and include climate mitigation and adaptation measures within marine protected areas. And, despite being a part of the most polluting region in the world, China and Viet Nam stand out for committing to implement measures for energy saving, energy efficiency and emission reduction in fisheries as a means of mitigating GHG emissions. The review of regulations and agreements found little evidence of such measures being used in the fisheries sector.
Towards a Statistical Framework for the Measurement of Tax and Commercial Illicit Financial Flows
This paper focuses on efforts by eleven African countries to measure tax and commercial IFFs. It reviews and assesses development of concepts and methods, and their pilot testing. As such, it draws from existing work and documents of custodian agencies and provides (further) methodological inputs into ongoing development of suggested statistical methodologies to measure tax and commercial IFFs and feed into global reporting on SDG indicator 16.4.1.
Promoting International Investment by Small and Medium-sized Enterprises
This report examines through empirical research and policy analysis the internationalization process of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs), shedding light on the key factors, challenges, and strategies essential for harnessing the global potential of these dynamic enterprises. The objective of this report is to offer a practical guide to policymakers for the promotion and facilitation of SMEs inward and outward investment. It aims to identify ways and means both to attract FDI by (foreign) SMEs and to support the internationalization of (domestic) SMEs, to maximize their development benefits. The report presents new insights and real-world examples of SMEs that have successfully navigated international markets, emphasizing the lessons learned and best practices and illustrating the impact of supportive government policies and initiatives on SMEs' global ventures.
Double Taxation Treaties and Their Implications for Investment: What Investment Policymakers Need to Know
This guide complements the “twin” guide on international investment agreements (IIAs) and their implications for tax measures published in 2021 by UNCTAD in cooperation with the WU Global Tax Policy Center. It equally aims to stimulate interaction between investment policymakers and DTT negotiators. This guide aims to bridge the gap between investment and tax policy, complementing a previous guide on IIAs. Its detailed exploration of DTTs, providing insights into their structure, functioning, and impact on international investment, advocates for a synergistic approach between tax and investment policymaking. The guide emphasizes the importance of coherent policies to support sustainable development and economic growth.
Considerations for a New Collective Quantified Goal
Bringing Accountability, Trust and Developing Country Needs to Climate Finance
This report explores lessons from the ongoing challenges with climate finance and more specifically the $100 billion goal, proposing a set of considerations for the NCQG to ensure it is an improved target. The report attempts to clarify some of the key issues around a new needs-based target, supporting Parties to deliver an NCQG consistent with PA commitments, enabling more ambitious climate-resilient development pathways in developing countries, and rebuilding trust for all.
Making Sense of Article 2.1(C): What Role for Private Finance in Achieving Climate Goals?
Aligning the whole financial system, encompassing public and private financial flows at the domestic and international level, with a “pathway towards low greenhouse gas emissions and climate resilient development,” as stated in Article 2.1(c) of the Paris Agreement, is fundamental to limiting global warming and supporting the development ambitions of developing countries. This report responds to the ongoing dialogue with a particular focus on the role of private finance, proposing recommendations to Parties on the key actions they can take to deliver the ambitions of Article 2.1(c) while upholding commitments on the basis of equity and the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities in light of different national circumstances (CBDR-RC).
The UNCTAD Model Law on Competition After 30 Years - Some Reflections
UNCTAD Model Law on Competition (Model Law) has been developed by member States’ representatives gathered in UNCTAD intergovernmental meetings to provide guidance on competition legislations, particularly for developing countries that are not familiar with this field, recognizing their interest to be able to take appropriate actions towards anticompetitive practices. The discussion on the Model Law in UNCTAD dates back to the 1970s, when only around 20 jurisdictions in the world had competition laws and authorities, and most were developed countries. This publication revisits the Model Law from different angles; the origin and history of the Model Law, as well as its negotiation are discussed. Testimonials from young competition authorities from developing countries share the relevance of the Model Law in the drafting of their own competition laws and refer to the implications of the Model Law to developing countries.
Promoting Food Security Through Non-tariff Measures: From Costs to Benefits
The objective of this report is to decrypt the complex linkages across the four pillars of food security: accessibility, availability, stability, and utilization. It quantifies impacts and offers solutions. In section 2 we distinguish different types of NTMs and present quantitative evidence of their incidence. Section 3 maps out the multidimensional linkages between NTMs and food security. Section 4 looks at policy actions at the national, regional and multilateral levels to tilt the balance between costs and benefits towards a positive impact on food security. Section 5 concludes with policy recommendations.
Entrepreneurs Riding the Wave of Circularity
The publication explores the importance of moving towards a circular economy model — a growing economic model that not only tackles pressing environmental challenges but also has the potential to unlock economic growth, job creation, and contribute to building resilient and sustainable societies. The core focus of the publication within this topic lies in highlighting the pivotal role of entrepreneurs as catalysts of circularity. It emphasizes how entrepreneurs driving SMEs and start-ups have the power to bring about mindset changes within their communities and send ripples of change throughout the entire value chain by introducing new products, services, methods of production, and business models that respond to emerging needs. The paper also acknowledges the challenges that limit entrepreneurial innovation for a circular economy, particularly in developing nations. As such, it outlines policy measures to create a thriving environment for entrepreneurs to innovate in this direction.
Voluntary Sustainability Standards and BioTrade: Is There a Connection?
This report provides a synthesis of the connections between selected Voluntary Sustainability Standards (VSS) and the UNCTAD BioTrade Principles & Criteria (P&C). The growth in VSS-compliant production has been increasing, and in some sectors, even exceeding that of conventional production. While VSS have proliferated across multiple sectors, their role in trade and biodiversity still demands greater exploration. The BioTrade initiative, through its P&C, promotes sustainable trade and investment in biodiversity-based products and services. While these are two of the tools that can be used by public and private sector actors to mitigate their negative impacts on biodiversity, there has been little understanding of the alignment between these two tools. This is important to understand the opportunities for mutual recognition and support and to avoid the proliferation of tools.
Sustainability Integration by Public Pension and Sovereign Wealth Funds, 2022
This study examines ESG and sustainability integration in the investment practices of the world’s 100 largest public pension funds (PPFs) and sovereign wealth funds (SWFs), accounting for $22 trillion in assets under management (AUM). PPFs and SWFs have long-term obligations and investment horizons. This puts them in a unique position to contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and take action on sustainability risks, especially climate change. By reviewing the sustainability reporting of 47 ‘frontrunner’ funds, this study identifies a rich pool of good practices for sustainability integration in six strategic areas: governance, corporate sustainable investment policies, sustainability integration strategies, ESG integration along the investment chain, climate action, and evaluation and reporting. The findings of the report and best practice cases will also contribute to UNCTAD guidance on sustainability integration for institutional investors, with a particular relevance for developing countries.
Trade in Processed Food
This technical paper focuses on efforts by the WHO and UNCTAD Statistics to define and measure international trade flows in food items according to various levels of processing. It reviews and assesses development of concepts related to the question of healthiness and links to level of food processing, and provides a trade matrix of bilateral trade flow of processed food items. It analyses these flows to understand international trade movements in processed food to complement discussions on healthiness and dietary requirements globally. This serves as a stepping stone into further analysis and methodological, as well as conceptual work.
El viaje de los migrantes de los países del norte de Centroamérica a los Estados Unidos: costo monetario, contratación de coyotes y probabilidad de endeudamiento
En este artículo, se estudian distintos aspectos del viaje que realizan las personas migrantes desde sus países de origen (El Salvador, Guatemala y Honduras) hasta los Estados Unidos: el costo total del viaje, la probabilidad de endeudarse para realizarlo, la probabilidad de contratar un coyote y el costo monetario de dicha contratación. Se analizan los años comprendidos entre 2013 y 2019 y el primer trimestre de 2020, sobre la base de la Encuesta sobre Migración en la Frontera Sur de México (EMIF Sur). Los resultados del análisis indican que la probabilidad de que los migrantes contraten los servicios de un coyote es elevada, así como los costos que implica su contratación (tanto para transitar por México como para cruzar a los Estados Unidos, o ambos), que la mayoría de los migrantes que contratan un coyote piden dinero prestado y que los costos totales del viaje son altos y se han ido incrementado con el tiempo.
Globalized production processes and foreign governmental lobbies: Analysing the United States Foreign Agents Registration Act reports
This study examines two potentially opposing effects that the current state of trade globalization can have on foreign governmental lobbies in the United States. On one hand, economic globalization and increased flows of goods may lead to more and more contentious issues between trading partners. On the other hand, the growing networks of global value chains (GVCs) may mobilize interest groups in foreign lobbies’ target countries (the United States in this study), whose activities might substitute for those of foreign governmental lobbies. With such linkages, an increase in lobbying activities by domestic producers may reduce the need for direct foreign lobbying on contentious issues. The study reveals different effects of forward and backward GVC linkages, and the results have two main policy implications: first, policymakers should be aware of the growing intricate nature of foreign influence; second, more attention must be paid to political consequences of GVCs’ distributive effects, particularly those from backward linkages.
Mapping the Rwandan Diaspora in the United States of America
This report is on a mapping exercise that took place in the USA from November 2021 to March 2022. The study aimed to gain insights into the socioeconomic profile, professional skills and expertise of this population and assess their capacity, level of interest and motivation to participate and engage in development-related activities in Rwanda. Key informants and opinion leaders (including former community leaders and other, independent leaders), as well as ordinary diasporans, through their participation in focus group discussions, provided invaluable insights. These respondents represent the complex and diverse socioeconomic profiles and experiences of the Rwandan diaspora in the United States. The report proposes a list of recommendations on ways to match or align Government-led projects and initiatives with skills available in the Rwandan diaspora in the United States and enhance the substantial engagement already in place: (a) developing creative strategies to recruit diaspora talent; (b) devising incentive schemes to attract talent; (c) promoting short-term engagements to individuals already employed in the diaspora; (d) leveraging video conferencing technologies for synchronous e-learning and e-mentoring (strategies already mentioned in previous Rwandan diaspora mapping reports); and (e) establishing sustained and adequate communication strategies to reach the Rwandan diaspora in the United States.
LaGrand Case: Vol.III (Germany v. United States of America)
Pleadings, Oral Arguments, Documents
Pleadings, Oral Arguments, Documents: LaGrand Case (Germany v. United States of America) Volume III
LaGrand Case: Vol.II (Germany v. United States of America)
Pleadings, Oral Arguments, Documents
Pleadings, Oral Arguments, Documents: LaGrand (Germany v. United States of America) Volume II
Reports of Judgments, Advisory Opinions and Orders 2021: Alleged Violations of the 1955 Treaty of Amity, Economic Relations, and Consular Rights (Islamic Republic of Iran v. United States of America)
Preliminary Objections, Judgment of 3 February 2021
Judgment on the preliminary objections raised by the United States.