UN Trade and Development

Cross-border e-commerce can boost South-South cooperation by deepening trade links, upgrading industries, growing revenues and creating jobs. In Geneva, Acting Secretary-General Moreno met experts to explore new models, pathways and mechanisms. More: ow.ly/Fo3G50YZ0oI

Tariffs rose sharply in 2025, but they have not been the main obstacle to trade over recent decades. The latest Global Trade Update shows non-tariff measures drive trade costs for most economies, exceeding tariffs in 88% of cases. Map disclaimer: ow.ly/IBok50YYjiP

Recently at the Yerevan Dialogue, Acting Secretary-General Moreno warned that geopolitical tensions, rising debt burdens and economic fragmentation are straining development cooperation – and called for urgent reform of the global financial architecture. ow.ly/RCvY50YY6J9

Cross-border services: Digital trade provisions on data flows, data protection, e-transactions and infrastructure are expanding. They reduce fragmentation and improve predictability, but restrictions risk limiting access and value chain participation. ow.ly/Lftq50YXBn0

Acting Secretary-General Moreno opens today the 9th intergovernmental group of experts meeting on e-commerce and the digital economy in Geneva. The forum supports developing countries to bridge the digital divide and build inclusive knowledge societies. ow.ly/omjb50YXvsS

Developed economies dominate exports of digitally deliverable services, while many least developed countries remain on the margins. Closing this gap requires targeted policy action as services increasingly drive value creation. More: ow.ly/Awvy50YX1aS

GDP alone cannot show whether lives are improving or whether progress can last. This week, the @UN set out a new global blueprint with 31 indicators to track well-being, equity, sustainability and resilience. Take a deeper look: ow.ly/w7Qy50YX0zy

Aligning trade rules or recognizing standards can significantly reduce unnecessary costs. In Africa, even limited regulatory cooperation could cut costs by 30–40% in agriculture and manufacturing. More in the latest Global Trade Update: ow.ly/QQFr50YWYAt

Non-tariff measures protect health, safety and the environment, but unnecessary trade costs can and should be reduced. Solutions: greater transparency, stronger regulatory cooperation & more support for exporters. Explore the latest Global Trade Update: ow.ly/kwKw50YWYpn

Average tariff rates on Latin American exports more than doubled in 2025. Compliance with increasingly complex standards also becomes more costly. How to address this double burden disproportionately affecting developing regions? Global Trade Update: ow.ly/1kNh50YWCUt

The report is out. The work begins. Counting What Counts, report of the High-Level Expert Group on Beyond GDP, is now available: un.org/en/beyondGDP/d… Next: → Intergovernmental process → Country-level piloting → Implementation of data agenda #BeyondGDP @unctad @UNDP

GDP alone doesn’t show if people are living well, if growth is harming the planet, or if opportunity is shared. The @UN’s new report calls for measuring progress beyond GDP with broader indicators of well-being and sustainability. Explore: ow.ly/TW5u50YWyNU

For decades, GDP has been the benchmark of society’s progress. Yet, as the GDP figures keep ticking up, so too does disenchantment with political and economic systems. Is it time to find a new way to measure what really matters? news.un.org/en/story/2026/…

GDP is the most widely used metric of economic progress & well-being. But it cannot be the only one. GDP is indifferent to whether income goes to billionaires or to the poor – or if that income goes to addressing hunger, health or deprivation. Let’s count what matters: Health. Biodiversity. Job-creation. Human rights. Equality.

GDP isn’t the full scoreboard for tracking progress. The @UN now proposes 31 indicators beyond economic output – well-being, equity, resilience and more. “What we measure shapes what we value,” says @UNCTAD Acting Secretary-General Pedro Manuel Moreno. ow.ly/SeN650YWeA0

Launching today: Counting What Counts, a NEW report from the UN High-Level Expert Group on Beyond GDP. 🗓️7 May 2026 ⏰ 3-6pm EDT 📺 webtv.un.org/en/asset/k1r/k… 🔗 un.org/en/beyondGDP #BeyondGDP #GlobalGoals #PactForTheFuture @UNStats

Non-tariff measures like regulations and standards now drive most trade costs, reshaping global trade and market access. For developing countries, the burden is double: tariffs plus complex rules. What could help level the playing field? Explore: ow.ly/1kuo50YW1y9

The AI investment surge could accelerate growth – or deepen global inequality. The challenge now is turning this shift into jobs, skills, innovation and development gains for all economies, not just a few. More from @UNCTAD: ow.ly/JjJu50YVYya

UNCTAD Acting Secretary-General Pedro Manuel Moreno spoke on a panel discussion on “International Development Cooperation: Challenges and Prospects”. The event is part of the Yerevan Dialogue 2026, underway in Armenia on 5-6 May.

Acting Secretary-General Pedro Manuel Moreno today met with Robert Abisoghomonyan (@RAbisoghomonyan), Deputy Foreign Minister of Armenia, during the Yerevan Dialogue 2026. The forum aims to foster regional collaboration, resilience & innovative solutions amid global uncertainty.