The UNCTAD secretariat has the honour to invite experts from member States to a series of Trade Policy Dialogue sessions, on issues related to the trade and development agenda of relevance to the upcoming WTO 13th Ministerial Conference.

Resilient and sustainable supply chains

The briefing will share recent UNCTAD work on issues directly addressed by WTO processes on the following issues.

Global supply chains are a critical component of the international trading system, and their effective functioning is essential for economic growth, job creation, and poverty reduction. However, the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent multiple crises have underscored the need for a more resilient, sustainable, and inclusive system.

This session will provide updates on the interface between resilient supply chains and our current political and socioeconomic challenges, including the Red Sea crisis, food security, inflation, climate change mitigation and adaptation, connectivity, digitalization, and the energy transition.

The session builds on UNCTAD’s work to help keep trade, ports and borders open in times of supply chain crisis.

Key questions

• How do supply chain interruptions impact trade, prices, and economic development?
• What are major trends in global supply chains, and how can developing countries ensure they benefit from them?
• What could and should policymakers do to ensure sustainable and resilient supply chains?