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Commodities

A/RES/44/218No PDF available

Who created this mandate?

A Resolution of the General Assembly, under agenda item 82bTrade and development, published in 1990.

What other versions does this mandate have?

22 versions · 1987–2025
Newer documents in this group exist (latest: 2025).
  • 2025A/RES/80/124CommoditiesLatestCompare with previous version
  • 2023A/RES/78/138CommoditiesCompare with previous version
  • 2022A/RES/76/194CommoditiesCompare with previous version
  • 2020A/RES/74/204CommoditiesCompare with previous version
  • 2018A/RES/72/205CommoditiesCompare with previous version

iVersions are identified automatically by matching titles within the same organ (~97% accuracy on a manual audit).

What subjects does this mandate have?

17 topics
Budget ContributionsCommoditiesCommodity AgreementsCommodity MarketsCommodity PricesCompensatory FinancingDrug TrafficEconomic DevelopmentExport DiversificationExport EarningsMarket AccessMultilateral Trade NegotiationsNarcotic DrugsSignatures, Accessions, RatificationsTerms of TradeTrade in CommoditiesTrade Liberalization

What does this mandate say?

13 operative paragraphs
1
Stresses the urgent need for appropriate and early action to address the present world situation in the area of commodities;
Expresses its concern at the negative effects of the 2. long-term downward trend of com‡odity pric_es on ˆhe economic development of the developmg countnes, which hinders their efforts to improve the living conditions of their peoples and to redress increasing poverty;
3
Stresses the need for all countries, according to their economic capacity and their weight in the world economy, international organizations, multilateral financial institu­ tions and other relevant organizations to undertake mea­ sures for the diversification of the commodity economy of developing countries and to ensure greater participation of those countries in the processing, marketing and distribu­ tion, including transportation, of commodities, and, in this context, stresses the importance of market access for commodities from developing countries and of improved market transparency;
4
Recognizes that decisions on diversification are primarily the responsibility of developing countries, em­ phasizes, in that context, the need for continued im­ plementation of their diversification programmes, bearing in mind, inter alia, the long-term evolution of market con­ ditions and the linkage between diversification efforts and market access, and invites developed countries, interna­ tional financial institutions and other relevant organiza­ tions to extend financial support to such diversification programmes;
Notes with concern that a further decline in com­ 5. modity prices and commodity export earnings, as well as the long-term deterioration in the terms of trade of devel­ oping countries, in particular the least developed and the commodity-dependent among them, would hinder any prospect of sustained growth and development for those countries;
Expresses its conviction that more stable market con­ 6. ditions for commodities would be conducive to the social and economic development of developing countries and could, inter alia, contribute to the international campaign against illicit production of, trafficking in and abuse of narcotic drugs, thus supporting the efforts undertaken by countries to combat such illicit activities;
Recognizes the need for a better functioning of com­ modity markets as well as the desirability of achieving sta­ ble and more predictable conditions in commodity trade and of avoiding excessive fluctuations of prices, and urges co-operation between producers and consumers, with a view to improving the functioning of existing international commodity agreements or arrangements and/or, as ap­ propriate, negotiating other commodity agreements or ar­ rangements, in line with the relevant provisions of the Fi­ nal Act adopted by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development at its seventh session;
8
Urges all parties involved to meet agreed commit­ ments and work for a balanced approach to the multilat­ eral trade negotiations within the Uruguay Round of mul­ tilateral trade negotiations, launched during the Special Session of the Contracting Parties to the General Agree­ ment on Tariffs and Trade, held at Punta del Este, Uru­ guay, from 15 to 20 September 1986, so as to ensure that their successful conclusion brings about further expansion and liberalization in trade in commodities, taking into ac­ count the special and differential treatment for developing countries, as well as all other principles contained in the Ministerial Declaration on the Uruguay Round; 100 9.
Recognizes the urgent need to address the grave problem of shortfalls in export earnings in the commodi­ ties of developing countries and, in this regard, notes that a special session of the Trade and Development Board will be devoted to compensatory financing of these shortfalls;
10
Calls upon those countries that have ratified the Agreement Establishing the Common Fund for Com­ modities to contribute to making both accounts of the Common Fund fully operational as soon as possible, in full compliance with the provisions of the Agreement and, in this connection, welcomes the significant voluntary contributions made to the second account of the Common Fund and expresses the hope that further contributions will be forthcoming;
11
Invites all countries, particularly major exporters and consumers of commodities that have not yet ratified the Agreement, to do so as soon as possible, thereby con­ tributing to the improvement of market conditions to the benefit of both producers and consumers;
12
Requests the Secretary-General of the United Na­ tions Conference on Trade and Development to submit to the General Assembly at its forty-fifth session a report on world commodity trends and prospects, with particular reference to the situation of the commodity-dependent de­ veloping countries;
13
Decides to include the question of commodities in the provisional agenda of its forty-fifth session.

iParagraph content is machine-extracted from UN documents. For authoritative content, please refer to the official UN document.

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