INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTIONAL REFORM (UNCTAD XI)

44. “UNCTAD IX was a major milestone, in the renewal of UNCTAD. In close partnership with the other member States, we succeeded in reforming UNCTAD's intergovernmental machinery and in refocusing its work on a small number of priorities to promote development through trade and investment with the aim of facilitating the integration of developing countries in the international trade system. We are committed to the implementation of these reforms.”

Grading: -1

Background

The goal of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) is to ensure that international trade is a force for the durable development of all people and nations. It is designed to promote development through trade and international economic co-operation.

The 9th United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD IX) was concluded on May 11 in Midrand, South Africa. Recognizing that disparities between and within nations could be eliminated only through a global partnership, member States of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development set priorities for policies and concrete action.

Reaffirming their commitment to “partnership for development”, the States agreed to practical measures to help developing countries reap the benefits of globalization and development.

The Midrand Declaration states that the partnership for development must be based on a clear definition of roles, the establishment of common objectives, and the development of joint action. This calls for:

1) strengthening intergovernmental co-operation between developed and developing countries,
2) co-operation between developing countries should be enhanced with special attention to the least developed countries,
3) more effective co-ordination and complementarity of multilateral institutions,
4) mobilization of human and material resources towards development through dialogue and common action between governments and civil society,
5) partnerships between public and private sector to achieve higher growth rates and greater development.

Analysis

In the Canadian government's foreign trade and development policy record since the Lyon Summit, there have been no direct references to UNCTAD or the courses for future action delineated in the UNCTAD IX final text specifically. Thus, in so far as the Canadian commitment to “reforming UNCTAD's intergovernmental machinery” is concerned, it has been achieved only as far as Canada has been represented in the general UNCTAD IX process after May 1996 eg. General Assembly endorsement of the outcome of UNCTAD IX adopting 28 proposals recommended by the Economic and Financial Committee in December 1996.

Canada has pursued unilateral initiatives to “promote development through trade and investment with the aim of facilitating the integration of developing countries in the international trade system” in the general and broad context of Canadian foreign trade and development policy, with no reference to UNCTAD IX. They are such things as:

1997

April 11: Canada signed Investment & Consular Agreements with Lebanon

March 26: Christine Stewart visited Kenya and South Africa to promote bilateral partnerships and development programs

March 6: Canada signed bilateral commercial and development agreements with Ukraine

February 17: Eggleton lead business delegation to Israel and the West Bank

February 12: Canada-Chile Free Trade Agreement bill introduced in Parliament

February 3: Canada & Croatia signed Commercial and Development Agreements

1996

December 19: Axworthy visited India to promote bilateral co-operation and open new Canadian office

December 17: Canadian companies announced major investments as part of Canada, Chile sign free trade agreement

December 16: Canada announced funding to support reconstruction of Lebanon

December 13: Eggleton welcomed Information Technology Deal to stimulate trade in information technology and Canadian exports

December 3: Canadian companies forged new links at Canada Expo '96 as Eggleton signs Canada-Chile FTA

November 29: Chan visited Brunei to promote trade and investment and enhance bilateral relations

November 27: Canada and Japan agreed to co-operate on infrastructure projects in developing countries

November 19: Christine Stewart consulted with African nations on development in Central Africa

November 14: Canada and Chile reached free trade agreement

November 14: Canada pursued business opportunities in Middle East to help build stronger Middle East economy

September 21: Canada strengthened links to Central America with investment agreement and air negotiations

September 16: Pierre Pettigrew, Minister for International Co-operation supported a new program to promote and expand African audio-visual industry. CIDA allocation of $500,000.00 over two years to implement the program

September 9: Pierre Pettigrew met with representatives of La Francophonie and International Co-operation to pursue opportunities in development

August 23: In Ethiopia and Uganda Christine Stewart co-chaired Economic Committee Meeting of Global Coalition for Africa

July 26: Canadian support of private sector participation in reconstruction of Lebanon

While Canadian actions were not specifically pursued in the name of UNCTAD IX declarations, there were significant steps taken to facilitate the integration of developing countries into the international trading system. Moreover, aside from the Lyon communiqué, there has been no further mention of Canadian measures to reform the intergovernmental machinery of UNCTAD IX.