21 April 2021. From the WTO: "An analysis of least-developed countries’ (LDCs) trade flows in 2020, presented to WTO members at a meeting of the Sub-Committee on LDCs on 19 April, revealed that the negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on trade was worse for LDCs than for the world as a whole.
Enhanced Integrated Framework (EIF) and partners are holding the??from?23 to 25 March?to assess the trade impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and make the case for mobilizing aid for trade financing to support recovery.
Event on 8 March 2021. On the occasion of International Women's Day, this event will discuss gender responsive trade ecosystems to help women integrate or remain in value chains in times of COVID-19, with a focus on LDCs. More information here:
The graduation of the LDCs?is expected to mark a significant achievement in their development path. However, despite?new prospects, LDC graduation also present?some challenges in meeting the demands of a successful transition to the next stages of socio-economic development. Upon the graduation, LDCs will lose a number of support measures after specific transition periods.
11 December 2020. Two proposals were submitted recently by the LDC group at the WTO seek the extension of LDC support measures under the WTO for a period after graduation:
1 December 2020.? The government of China has pledged to renew its contribution of USD 500,000 (CHF 451,500) to the WTO’s Least Developed Countries and Accessions Programme (also known as the China Programme).??The China Programme aims to enable LDCs to better integrate into the global economy by strengthening their participation in WTO activities and helping those not yet members join the Organization. It provides financing to support
The current COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the precarity of LDCs when it comes to financing and investments in support to trade. There is a growing consensus in the aid community that blending traditional Official Development Assistance (ODA) with private sector sources of capital through innovative finance mechanisms will be crucial to help LDCs recover from the pandemic.
13 November 2020.??At its biannual meeting, the WTO Committee on Rules of Origin addressed the implementation of the Nairobi Decision on Preferential Rules of Origin for LDCs, the utilization of tariff preferences by LDC exporters of minerals and metals, transparency in non-preferential rules of origin and steps to ease rules of origin requirements in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.? See the press release and links to relevant documents?
