CUTS Daily Bulletin # 01 | October 20, 2025
OPENING PLENARY AND CEREMONY
 
The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), established in 1964, promotes inclusive and sustainable development by supporting developing nations’ integration into the global economy. The 16th session (UNCTAD16) officially opened on 20 October 2025, marked by the election of its President and the presentation of the conference agenda during the Opening Plenary and Ceremony in Geneva. The key takeaways from the discussion were:
  1. Gratitude and Continued Collaboration: Member States  expressed appreciation for UNCTAD’s support in helping countries, particularly small island developing states, overcome global challenges during and beyond the COVID-19 pandemic. It was noted, however, that the dedicated trust fund provided by UNCTAD had not been utilized optimally.
  2. Challenges in a Fragmented Global Context: The world has become increasingly fragmented and polarized, with many countries turning inward and poverty levels rising. There is a requirement for renewed commitment to global cooperation and proactive engagement rather than retreat.
  3. Strengthening Multilateralism and Institutional Cooperation: There is a need for UNCTAD to work closely with the World Trade Organization to strengthen the multilateral trading system. International solidarity is essential for upholding multilateralism and addressing shared global challenges.
  4. Frameworks for Fair and Inclusive Development: There is an importance of establishing stable frameworks to promote fair, inclusive, and lasting development. It is imperative that trade remains a key instrument in achieving sustainable growth and reducing inequality.
  5. Adapting to Emerging Global Trends: There are ongoing shifts in global trade dynamics and a growing importance of clean technologies. There is a digital divide that must be bridged, not widened. The multilateral trading system must be viewed as a space where countries could engage constructively despite differing perspectives.   
The key speakers were Rebeca Grynspan, Mia Amor Mottley, Phạm Minh Chính, José Ramos-Horta, Sandra V. Husbands, Guy Parmelin, Annalena Baerbock, Tatiana Valovaya and Damon Embling. 
 
(Reporting by Priyadarshini Venkatesh, CUTS International, Geneva)
Session-02: LEADERS DIALOGUE
 
This session, organized by the UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD) as part of UNCTAD16, provided the leaders in trade a platform to discuss the issues in trade. The key takeaways from the discussion were:
  1. Reforming the Multilateral System: There is recognition that the multilateral system is not functioning properly, requiring a move away from traditional approaches toward a modern multilateral system based on reform. Transparency is identified as a starting point for building predictability and trust, while seeking efficiencies through greater partnerships and avoiding fragmentation despite multipolarity.
  2. Balanced Sustainability and Trade as Development Engine: Social, environmental, and economic sustainabilities are equally important and must be achieved together. Trade must function as an engine for sustainable development, but this requires enforceable rules and maintaining resilience of working systems against trade distortions, moving beyond zero-sum game approaches.
  3. Private Capital and Investment Facilitation: Achieving development goals requires private capital at scale through digitization, innovation and mobilization. Investment needs favourable regulatory frameworks and derisking approaches, with countries making themselves attractive through ease of doing business improvements and spreading investment opportunities across regions.
    4.    SME Focus and Financing: While discussions often focus on large corporations, 99% of companies are SMEs for whom financing is key. There is a need for growth in all countries, as global growth depends on trade growth, with more precise Special and Differential Treatment provisions to support smaller economies and businesses.
  4. Regional Integration and Development Pragmatism: Regional integration and FTA proliferation present both opportunities and challenges, requiring intentional pragmatism in approach. Even if there is erosion of the development aspect of trade, it cannot be abandoned, with innovation and product diversification essential for maintaining development momentum. 
       
The key speakers were Rebeca Grynspan, Arnoldo André Tinoco, Kamina Johnson Smith, Ahmed Kouchouk, Guy Parmelin and Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala. 

(Reporting by Priyadarshini Venkatesh, CUTS International, Geneva)
UNCTAD16 General Debate
 
At a time when the world stands at a crossroads of crisis and opportunity, UNCTAD 16 erupted as a powerful call to reshape the global economic order. Held in Geneva, Switzerland, in October 2025, under the theme “Shaping the Future: Driving Economic Transformation for Equitable, Inclusive, and Sustainable Development,” the General Debate brought together nations united by a common vision — a fairer, more resilient, and inclusive world economy. Delegates united in calling for renewed multilateralism, financial reform, and digital–green transformation, emphasizing urgent climate action, debt relief, and fair trade to ensure no country is left behind. Below is a summary of the key takeaways.
  1. Renewed Multilateralism: Delegates urged a revival of fair, inclusive, and law-based multilateral cooperation, emphasizing that a reformed system is essential to address inequality, climate change, and global instability. UNCTAD was reaffirmed as a key platform for dialogue and ensuring developing nations have an equal voice in global economic policy.
  2. Financial Reform: Delegates called for an overhaul of the global financial system to make it fairer and more supportive of development. Key priorities included debt relief, concessional and innovative financing, and reforms to credit rating systems to expand access to affordable finance and narrow the gap between rich and poor nations.
  3. Digital and Green Transformation: Delegates prioritized a twin digital and green transition, stressing digital inclusion, technology transfer, and infrastructure to close the digital divide. They also called for stronger commitments to renewable energy, circular economies, and climate-resilient development to ensure a just and inclusive sustainability transition.
  4. Climate Action, Debt Relief, and Fair Trade: Delegates called for urgent climate action alongside fair, transparent trade. They emphasized that environmental measures should promote shared prosperity, not create trade barriers. Debt relief and climate finance were deemed essential for helping vulnerable nations adapt, recover, and pursue sustainable growth.
  5. Leaving No Country Behind: The conference reaffirmed that sustainable progress must be inclusive and equitable. Delegates from all nations emphasized a shared vision of a global economy where opportunity, resilience, and prosperity are accessible to all.
During the UNCTAD 16 General Debate, statements were delivered by representatives from Peru (on behalf of the Group of 77 and China), Egypt, Sri Lanka, Turkmenistan, The Gambia, Bhutan, Panama, Nigeria, Ghana, Qatar, the Russian Federation, Nepal (on behalf of the Least Developed Countries), the Slovak Republic, Cambodia, Finland, France, Malaysia (on behalf of the Asia-Pacific Group), Portugal, Estonia, and Canada (on behalf of the JOSCANS Group: Japan, the United States, Switzerland, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand).

(Reporting by Peter Maundu, CUTS International, Geneva)
UNCTAD16 Ministerial Roundtable: Reimagining Trade – A Broader Path to Development
 
On 20 October 2025, at the Assembly Hall, Palais des Nations, Geneva, ministers and senior officials convened for the UNCTAD16 Ministerial Roundtable to chart a bold new course toward inclusive and sustainable development. Under the theme “Reimagining Trade – A Broader Path to Development,” delegates from around the world examined the evolving landscape of global commerce and reaffirmed trade’s pivotal role as a driver of equality, resilience, and shared prosperity. Key takeaways from the UNCTAD16 Ministerial Roundtable include:
  1. Reimagining Trade for Development: Participants emphasized that trade remains a vital driver of growth, job creation, and investment—especially for developing countries. However, the current global trading system must be reformed to prioritize inclusivity, resilience, and sustainable development, moving beyond export growth toward broader social and economic progress.
  2. Strengthening Multilateralism: Speakers, including France and Poland, reaffirmed multilateralism as the foundation for fair and predictable trade. They called for renewed cooperation, reform of global trade rules, and enhanced trust among nations to ensure that developing countries can benefit equitably.
  3. Domestic Policies and Value Addition: Ministers from the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Nepal highlighted the need to diversify economies and promote value-added production. Countries should leverage trade to strengthen local industries, improve governance, and create youth employment.
  4. Inclusive and Sustainable Trade: Delegates stressed aligning trade policies with sustainable development goals (SDGs)—ensuring environmental responsibility, social inclusion, and decent employment. Investment in infrastructure, skills, and technology was identified as key to achieving inclusive outcomes.
  5. Digital and Green Transformation: Countries such as Jamaica and Kazakhstan showcased progress in digital services, green innovation, and e-commerce. Digitalization and renewable energy transitions were viewed as critical to boosting competitiveness and resilience.
  6. Role of UNCTAD: Across sessions, UNCTAD was recognized as a trusted platform for dialogue, policy guidance, and technical assistance, helping developing and least developed countries (LDCs) strengthen trade capacity, integrate into global markets, and align national strategies with sustainable goals.
  7. Call to Action: Delegates concluded that global cooperation, debt relief, and fair-trade practices must underpin a reimagined trade system. Building trust, reforming institutions, and ensuring that no country is left behind were recurring themes throughout the discussions.
The roundtable featured high-level speakers including Rebeca Grynspan (UNCTAD), Julien Paluku Kahongya (DRC), Anil Kumar Sinha (Nepal), Éléonore Caroit (France), Michał Baranowski (Poland), Kamina Johnson Smith (Jamaica), Basilio Zefanias Muhate (Mozambique), Mahbubur Rahman (Bangladesh), Zhanel Kushukova (Kazakhstan), and Tatiana Molcean (UN Economic Commission for Europe), moderated by Damon Embling (Director, Headline Media UK).

(Reporting by Peter Maundu, CUTS International, Geneva)
Session-04: ASYCUDA — NEW TECHNOLOGY TO FOSTER EFFICIENT, SECURE AND SUSTAINABLE TRADE
 
This session, organized by the UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD) as part of UNCTAD16, showcased the Automated System for Customs Data (ASYCUDA), UNCTAD's largest technical cooperation programme that has supported over 100 developing economies in digitalizing customs and facilitating trade. The discussion explored how the new-generation ASYCUDA platform provides secure data exchanges and integrates artificial intelligence and machine learning for smarter risk management and faster clearance. The key takeaways from the discussion were:
  1. Next-Generation Digital Platform: ASYCUDA is cloud-based, open source, and modular, allowing seamless integration with government systems as technology evolves rapidly. The platform represents more than customs automation and is a digital alliance that enables small island states to integrate into global trade systems and build resilience beyond mere software implementation.
  2. Single Window Integration and Interoperability: The system enables single window automated approaches with electronic interfaces for activities like food safety inspections. It moves beyond automation to full-scale data integration, with interoperability and standards initiatives allowing customs systems to function seamlessly across borders and connecting all aspects of customs automation with broader trade facilitation.
  3. AI and Advanced Analytics: The platform leverages AI, cloud technology, and data analytics to provide new tools for economic diversification and create opportunities for women and youth. ASYCUDA collects data using AI systems accessible to all member countries, working to make these capabilities increasingly interoperable across different contexts.
  4. SME Access and Trade Cost Reduction: SMEs dominate trade volumes but face trade costs eight times higher than larger firms. ASYCUDA helps reduce customs clearance times and enhance efficiency not just through speed but through interoperability, requiring transparent, inclusive, and accountable frameworks with cooperation among governments, private sector, and development partners.
  5. Environmental Compliance and Transparency: Automation of permit issuance and compliance monitoring strengthens enforcement of international agreements while simplifying trader obligations. The system fosters transparency through public-private partnerships, with countries like Vanuatu, Comoros, Mongolia, and Cambodia expressing appreciation for ASYCUDA's impact on their trade systems.
                 
The key speakers were Pedro Manuel Moreno, Jaime Mendoza, Moustoifa Hassani Mohamed, Davaasuren Gerelmaa, Abdel Ilah Bousseta, Pha Engveng and Paula Baena. 

(Reporting by Priyadarshini Venkatesh, CUTS International, Geneva)
Session-05: SAFE PRODUCTS FOR ALL CONSUMERS
 
This session, organized by the UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD) as part of UNCTAD16, explored practical pathways for strengthening product safety through national reforms and international cooperation; and highlight key priorities, such as enhancing regulatory frameworks, improving risk assessment and injury data collection, strengthening product recall systems and establishing real-time mechanisms for information exchanges across borders, taking into consideration the particular needs of developing countries. The key takeaways from the discussion were:
  1. Consumer Safety as a Core Value: Consumer product safety is a core value of sustainable development and a public health priority, not just a technical or regulatory requirement. Focus should be placed on implementation and adherence to consumer protection safety guidelines and on fostering a culture of compliance.
  2. Partnerships and Collective Action: Attention should be given to public-private partnerships, regional pledges, and collaboration with consumer advocacy groups. Investment in consumer groups and shared commitment among governments, businesses, and civil society is essential to building trust and resilience against unsafe products and scams.
  3. Cross-Border and Digital Safety: There is a need to address cross-border product safety challenges and minimize risks linked to transboundary e-commerce. Emphasis is placed on better coordination for product recalls, harmonization of standards, and expansion of the definition of product safety to cover digital and connected devices that may compromise privacy.
  4. Knowledge, Testing, and Technical Support: Strengthening testing capacities and understanding of underlying processes are important to ensure safe products. International consumer protection initiatives and to be followed to provide technical training and materials to prevent risks and support safer trade environments.
  5. Consumer Education and Awareness: Consumer education campaigns, including those related to vehicle security, are necessary for promoting awareness and long-term, sustainable solutions. Building consumer knowledge and resilience are key to safer markets and informed decision-making. 
             
The key speakers were Pedro Manuel Moreno, Teresa Moreira, Ana Isabel Xavier, Cielo Elainne Rusinque Urrego, Hardin Ratshisusu Pinuccia Contino and Helena Leurent. 

(Reporting by Priyadarshini Venkatesh, CUTS International, Geneva)
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