1960s United Nations Conference on Trade and Development

1960s United Nations Conference on Trade and Development was a pivotal event in the history of international trade and development, attended by representatives from over 120 countries, including United States, Soviet Union, China, India, and Brazil. The conference was held in Geneva from March 23 to June 16, 1964, and was convened by the United Nations General Assembly with the support of United Nations Secretary-General U Thant and United Nations Development Programme. The conference aimed to promote international trade and economic development, particularly in developing countries such as Argentina, Chile, and Egypt, with the involvement of organizations like the International Monetary Fund and World Bank.

● Introduction

The 1960s United Nations Conference on Trade and Development was a response to the growing concerns about the widening gap between developed countries like United Kingdom, France, and Germany, and developing countries like Indonesia, Nigeria, and Pakistan. The conference was attended by prominent figures such as Che Guevara, Jawaharlal Nehru, and Kwame Nkrumah, who played a crucial role in shaping the conference's agenda and outcomes, in collaboration with institutions like the Food and Agriculture Organization and United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. The conference also received support from international organizations like the European Economic Community and the Organization of American States, which shared the goal of promoting economic cooperation and development among nations like Japan, Australia, and Canada.

● History

The idea of holding a conference on trade and development was first proposed by Raúl Prebisch, an Argentine economist and former United Nations official, who was influenced by the work of John Maynard Keynes and Joseph Schumpeter. The proposal was endorsed by the United Nations General Assembly in 1962, and the conference was subsequently organized by the United Nations Secretariat with the assistance of the International Labour Organization and the United Nations Conference on Trade and Employment. The conference was preceded by a series of regional meetings and consultations, involving countries like Mexico, South Africa, and South Korea, which helped to build momentum and consensus around the conference's objectives, with the participation of experts from the World Health Organization and the International Telecommunication Union.

● Objectives and Outcomes

The main objectives of the conference were to promote international trade and economic development, particularly in developing countries like Turkey, Thailand, and Philippines, and to address the issues of trade inequality and economic dependence, with the support of organizations like the Asian Development Bank and the African Development Bank. The conference resulted in the adoption of several key documents, including the New International Economic Order, which called for a more equitable and just international economic system, and the Generalized System of Preferences, which aimed to provide preferential trade treatment to developing countries like Vietnam, Sri Lanka, and Uganda. The conference also led to the establishment of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development as a permanent organization, with the involvement of countries like Russia, Italy, and Spain, and the support of institutions like the International Finance Corporation and the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency.

● Major Agreements and Resolutions

The conference resulted in several major agreements and resolutions, including the Charter of Algiers, which called for a new international economic order, and the Santiago Declaration, which emphasized the need for international cooperation and solidarity, with the participation of countries like Cuba, Nicaragua, and Bolivia. The conference also adopted several resolutions on issues like trade, investment, and technology transfer, which aimed to promote economic development and cooperation among nations like Greece, Portugal, and Ireland, with the support of organizations like the European Investment Bank and the Inter-American Development Bank. The conference's outcomes were influenced by the work of prominent economists like Milton Friedman and Paul Samuelson, and were shaped by the geopolitical context of the time, including the Cold War and the Non-Aligned Movement, which involved countries like Yugoslavia, India, and Egypt.

● Impact and Legacy

The 1960s United Nations Conference on Trade and Development had a significant impact on the international trade and development landscape, particularly in the areas of trade policy and economic cooperation, with the involvement of institutions like the World Trade Organization and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. The conference's emphasis on the need for a more equitable and just international economic system helped to shape the agenda of international organizations like the United Nations Development Programme and the International Fund for Agricultural Development, which work to promote economic development and reduce poverty in countries like Haiti, Mali, and Bangladesh. The conference's legacy can also be seen in the establishment of regional trade agreements like the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and the Southern Common Market, which aim to promote economic integration and cooperation among nations like Singapore, Malaysia, and Argentina, with the support of organizations like the Asian Development Bank and the Inter-American Development Bank.