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International regulation of trade by economic bodies of the United Nations. UNCTAD and its role in regulating international trade The most important functions of the WTO are

The role and place of the UN in the development of IEO.

In the global economy, for more than half a century, the international community has been looking for ways to solve problems with the help of the UN and its mechanisms, not without reason counting on its global nature.

According to UN experts, an improvement in the global economic situation should not be expected until mid-2003. Until recently, the UN believed that the world would recover from the economic recession that began in 2000 by the end of December this year. In particular, UN experts predicted that in 2002 the economic growth rate would be 1.8%, and in 2003 - 3.2%. Now the UN Economic and Social Council has revised its estimates, reports the BBC. Experts say that in 2002 the world economy will grow at a rate of 1.7% per annum, and in 2003 - only 2.9%. Considering that last year the growth rate of the global economy was the lowest over the past decade - only 1.3%.

The main reason for the slowdown is low global trade volumes. Its volumes increased at an unprecedented rate in the 1990s, and this year its growth rate will be only 1.6%.

Along with this, the UN diplomatically notes that the world's leading economies are still experiencing difficulties. Thus, the foreign trade deficit of the world's largest economy - the American one - is increasing. On general position The global economic situation is also affected by the slowdown in Latin America. The Argentine crisis hit the region: the country's economy will shrink by 12% over the year due to default and the IMF's refusal to support the article.

GDP growth rate African countries also significantly lower than those necessary to maintain economic stability. The UN expects that this year this figure for African states will be 2.7%, and next year - 4%.

The methods by which states usually control the state of affairs in the macroeconomy are often ineffective in the current situation, experts conclude. An analysis of 50 years of UN practice leads to the conclusion that, along with the every possible increase in the role of world political problems, economic aspects occupy a large place in its activities. This is expressed primarily in the expansion of the economic functions of the UN. All new areas of the world economy and international economic relations are becoming the subject of its study, analysis, search for ways and means of solution, and development of appropriate recommendations. At the same time, it is changing organizational structure the UN itself, the number is increasing economic institutions and the countries participating in them, the field of activity of these institutions and their contacts with other international as well as national institutions and organizations are expanding.
The importance of the economic activities of the UN is increasing with the increasing complexity of processes occurring in global economic relations and the international division of labor, with the growing variety of problems arising in the world economy, and with the dynamism of international economic life, which calls for the need for quick and effective solutions.
Carrying out economic activities, the UN remains first and foremost political organization. The political nature is clearly manifested in the interpretation and application of the fundamental principles that the organization itself has enshrined in its resolutions and programs, in the development of measures to resolve them, in relation to UN to world markets, development problems of individual countries, etc.
Article 1 of the UN Charter formulates the goals in a concentrated form international cooperation, including in the economic sphere “... to carry out international cooperation in resolving international problems economic, social..." nature. A number of other provisions of the Charter directly relate to issues of economic cooperation. So, ch. IX and X are entirely devoted to economic and social cooperation. Of particular importance is Art. 55, containing specific goals for economic cooperation within the UN. Among these goals is “the creation of conditions of stability and prosperity necessary for peaceful and friendly relations“,” “increasing the standard of living, full employment of the population,” promoting “the conditions for economic and social progress and development.” The Charter does not contain a list of special principles of economic cooperation, however, those enshrined in Art. 2 The general principles of international cooperation within the UN fully apply to the sphere of cooperation on economic issues.
The economic activities of the UN include four main areas:
·solving global economic problems common to all countries;
·promotion of economic cooperation between states with different levels of social economic development;
·promotion of economic growth of developing countries;
·solving problems of regional economic development.
In practice, work in these areas is carried out using the following forms of activity: information, technical and advisory and financial.
Information activities are the most common type of work of the UN. Issues of interest are placed on the agenda of political discussions, written reports are prepared, etc. The purpose of such activities is to have a general impact on the directions of economic policy of the member countries. To a greater extent, this work is “in reserve”, “for the future.” A significant amount of various information and statistical publications are published, which have a high reputation among specialists. Work in the field of unification, collection and processing of initial statistical data is led by the Statistical Commission and the Statistical Bureau. Activities in the field of accounting and statistics systems are very useful and beneficial for underdeveloped countries, since, on the one hand, they do not (often) have their own economically verified statistical methods, and on the other hand, foreign economic entities, trying to penetrate the markets of these countries, have practically the only the opportunity to obtain real information about the economy of a given country.
Technical advisory activities
UN carried out in the form of technical assistance to states in need of it. Back in 1948, some kind of principles were adopted for providing such assistance, which:
should not serve as a means for foreign economic and political interference in internal affairs;
must be provided exclusively through the government;
must be provided exclusively to that country;
should be provided, if possible, in the form desired by the country;
must meet high quality and
technically.
More details about this area of ​​activity are described below. Monetary and financial activities are carried out primarily through international organizations of the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development. International Finance Corporation. International Development Association, International Monetary Fund. These organizations are formally specialized organizations
UN.
ECOSOC - The UN Economic and Social Council, under whose auspices most of the other economic bodies of this organization operate. The functions of ECOCOS include organizing research and preparing various kinds of reports and recommendations on a wide range of international economic, social, cultural and related issues. ECOCOS is also endowed with the right to create various bodies on the basis of which its organizational structure is formed in the field of execution of decisions made. Currently, 54 states are members of ECOCO, elected for a period of 3 years. At the same time, every three years a third of the composition of ECOCO changes. By geographic region, representation is formed as follows: for Asia - 11 seats, for Africa - 14, for Latin America -10, for countries Western Europe and other countries – 13, for countries of Eastern Europe– 6 seats.
The Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) is the next senior body in the UN economic mechanism. ECOSOC, created in 1946, coordinates all UN activities in the socio-economic field. ECOSOC members are 54 UN member states elected by the UN General Assembly, with 5 permanent members of the Security Council being permanent members. The highest body of ECOSOC is the council session. Three sessions are held annually:
spring - on social, legal and humanitarian issues;
summer - on economic and social issues;
organizational.
In activity
ECOSOC Three main functions should be distinguished, these are
responsible specialized forum of states within the UN for qualified discussion of international economic and social problems and development of a principled political line;
coordination of all activities
UN on economic and social issues, coordination of activities of specialized institutions UN;
preparation of qualified research on general and special problems of economic and social development, international cooperation.
So, ECOSOC coordinates the activities of:
standing committees (economic committee, social committee, etc.);
functional commissions and subcommittees (statistical, social development, etc.);
regional economic commissions (Economic Commission for Europe - EEC, Economic Commissions for Africa, etc.);
UN specialized agencies (FAO, UNIDO, etc.).
Relations between ECOSOC and organizations of an autonomous nature, for example, with the UNDP, which is a subsidiary body of the UN GA, are regulated by relevant regulations.
According to Art. 68 of the Charter, in order to carry out its functions, ECOSOC has the right to create subsidiary bodies that work between sessions. Currently, there are 11 standing committees and commissions (on natural resources, non-governmental organizations, etc.), 6 functional commissions (statistical, social development, etc.), 5 regional economic commissions and a number of other bodies.

The United Nations not only occupies a central place in the system of interstate organizations, but also plays an exceptional role in modern international political development. Created in 1945 as a universal international organization aimed at maintaining peace and international security and the development of cooperation between states, the UN currently unites 192 countries of the world.

The impact of the UN on modern international relations is significant and multifaceted. It is determined by the following main factors:

− The UN is the most representative forum for discussions between states on current issues international development.

− The UN Charter is the foundation of modern international law, a kind of generally recognized code of conduct for states and their relationships; others compare it international treaties and agreements.

− The UN itself has become an important mechanism for international law-making and occupies a very special place among other organizations - sources of international law. At the initiative and within the framework of the UN, hundreds of international conventions and treaties have been concluded regulating the situation in a wide variety of spheres of public life.

− The principles of building the UN (primarily in granting a special status to permanent members of the Security Council) reflected the objective realities of the international political system, and their change became the main incentive for the ongoing work to reform this organization.

− Under the shadow of the UN, there are a large number of intergovernmental organizations that regulate international life within the framework of their functional purpose.

− The UN is endowed with extremely important competence to resolve issues of war and peace, including through the use of armed force.

The UN headquarters is located in New York, where five of its six main organs are located. In the General Assembly, each state has one vote; it meets for its regular sessions annually, as well as for special and emergency sessions (there were 29 in total); decisions on the agenda (which includes more than 100 issues) are made by a simple majority of votes and are not binding on member states, but are considered as the opinion of the world community and in this sense have significant moral authority. (During its activity, the General Assembly adopted over 10 thousand resolutions.) The Security Council consists of 15 members; 5 of them are permanent (Russia, USA, Great Britain, France and China), the rest are elected by the General Assembly for two years. Decisions are taken by a majority of 9 votes out of 15, including the concurring votes of all permanent members (who thus have veto power). When considering issues related to the emergence of a threat international peace, The Security Council has exceptionally broad powers, including the right to impose economic sanctions and decide on the use of military force

  1. UN partners
    by development goals
  1. UNDP
    UN Development Program
  1. Millennium Campaign
  1. DESA
    Department of Economic and Social Affairs
  1. The World Bank
  1. UNICEF
    UN Children's Fund
  1. UNEP
    UN Environment Program
  1. UNFPA
    United Nations Population Fund
  1. WHO
    World Health Organization
  1. IMF
    International Monetary Fund
  1. UN-Habitat
    UN Human Settlements Program
  1. FAO
    Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
  1. IFAD
    International Fund for Agricultural Development
  1. ILO
    The International Labour Organization
  1. ITU
    International Telecommunication Union
  1. UNAIDS
    Joint United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS
  1. UNCTAD
    UN Conference on Trade and Development
  1. UNDG
    UN Development Group
  1. UNESCO
    United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
  1. UNHCR
    United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
  1. UNIFEM
    United Nations Development Fund for Women
  1. UN OHCHR
    Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
  1. runway

In rsyulyuvannya international trade An important place is occupied by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) and the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCTRAL).

UNCTAD is a body of the UN General Assembly, founded in 1964 p. Its formation was based on the fact that the GATT was a semi-closed organization, a kind of “club of the elite”, the entrance to which was closed to all countries. Therefore, on the initiative of socialist and a number of developing countries, it was decided to create a body within the UN system that would regulate international trade on principles that were supposed to be fairer. main idea fields AC in shifting the emphasis in the regulatory mechanism in favor of countries, especially the least developed. These principles are particularly reflected in the "Charter of Economic Rights and Responsibilities of States", which was developed by UNCTAD and adopted by the General Assembly in 1976

UNCTAD includes 192 states, including Ukraine. The organization's headquarters is located in Geneva.

The main goal of UNCTAD is to promote international trade to accelerate international development, especially of developing countries.

§ intensification of intergovernmental cooperation between developed and developing countries;

§ strengthening cooperation between developing countries;

§ coordination of actions of multilateral legislators in the field of international trade and development;

§ mobilization of human and material resources through joint action by governments and society;

§ intensifying cooperation between the public and private sectors.

The goals of UNCTAD determined its functions:

1. Regulation of trade and economic relations between states.

2. Development of measures to regulate international trade in raw materials.

3. Development of principles of trade policy.

4. Analysis of trends in world development and international trade.

5. Discussion current problems international economic relations.

6. Coordination of the activities of UN bodies and institutions on international trade and development.

7. Cooperation with international organizations in the field of international trade (primarily with the WTO).

UNCTAD's activities are based on the following principles: equality of states in international trade relations; inadmissibility of discrimination and economic pressure; the spread of most favored nation treatment in international trade; providing benefits to developing countries on the basis of “non-borrowing”; abolition of preferences enjoyed by developed countries in the markets of weaker countries; promoting the expansion of exports from developing countries. These and some other principles are declared in the document entitled “Principles of International Legal Relations and Trade Policy.”

UNCTAD took an active part in developing the principles of the “New International Economic Order”, which was initiated by developing politicians. In this direction, in particular. The conference insists on limiting the practice of anti-dumping measures, which are widely used by developed countries against less developed ones (Ukraine also suffers from this), and on abandoning trade blockades and embargoes. UNCTAD recognizes that different groups of countries have unequal capabilities, so the problems of less developed countries must be taken into account in international trade. On the eve of the UNCTAD session (1996), a meeting of ministers of the Group of 77, which consists of developing countries, was held; they discussed the problems of stimulating economic development in the context of trade liberalization and globalization of the world economy.

Since raw materials remain the main export commodity for least developed countries, UNCTAD pays special attention to trade in raw materials. Special research groups on raw materials have been formed, relevant international agreements have been concluded, and conventions on the terms of trade in raw materials have been signed. At the initiative of UNCTAD, the Integrated Commodity Program (IPCP) was developed and adopted in 1976. The program's goal is to stabilize commodity prices and assist least developed countries in their industrial processing.

In developing international mechanism In trade policy, an important place will be played by measures to determine preferences for developing countries, to eliminate tariff barriers, and to improve the structure of their exports. Particular attention is paid to landlocked least developed countries (of which there are many in Africa) and island countries.

In addition to purely trade issues, UNCTAD is also aware of other issues of international economic cooperation. Currency and Finance; shipping; technology transfer insurance; international investments.

UNCTAD's analytical activities cover the following areas: global economic trends and their impact on the development process; macroeconomic policy; specific development problems, the use of successful development experiences by developing and countries with economies in transition; issues related to financial flows and debts. The research results form a bank of information provided to member countries.

UNCTAD organizational structure:

1. Conference.

2. Trade and Development Council.

3. Secretariat.

The Conference is the highest body of UNCTAD. It meets in session once every four years at the ministerial level and determines the main directions of international trade and development policy. The decisions of the Conference are primarily advisory, they are not obligatory for adoption by all members; In this way, UNCTAD differs significantly from the WTO, where decisions are binding.

Trade and Development Council - executive body; A special feature is the possibility of participation in its work by representatives of all member countries who wish (now there are 146 of them). The Council holds annual sessions at which issues of global politics, trade issues, monetary and financial relations, trade policy, and economic reforms are discussed.

The following functional commissions are subordinate to the Council: Commission on Trade in Goods and Services and Raw Materials; Commission for Investment, Technology and Finance; Business Commission.

The Secretariat is part of the UN Secretariat; headed by the Secretary General, who is the deputy Secretary General UN. The Secretariat includes two services: coordination and policy; external relations. In addition, in its work the Secretariat relies on 9 departments:

§ raw materials;

§ international trade;

§ service sector;

§ economic cooperation between developing countries;

§ global interdependence; TNCs and investments;

§ science and technology;

§ fewer developed countries;

§ management services.

In general, the WTO is known. UNCTAD runs the International Trade Center.

UNCTAD is financed from the following sources: funds from UNDP, the European Commission, the World Bank, and individual donor countries. Among the latter are mainly Western European countries and Japan.

UNCTAD has a difficult relationship with the WTO; in essence, they are competitors in the regulation of global trade. UNCTAD members are numerically dominated by developing countries; their representatives will be able to implement principles and decisions that are often not in the interests of developed countries (at least, for example, the spread of the “non-borrowing” principle). That is why states that have unquestioning authority in the WTO are trying to give more weight in international trade relations of this particular organization. Indeed, the authority of the WTO is higher than that of UNCTAD. The principle of decision-making plays an important role in this: their advisory nature in UNCTAD sometimes allows them to be ignored, and this weakens its authority. Thoughts were even expressed: is UNCTAD needed at all? But subsequently it was possible to differentiate the functions of the two organizations: UNCTAD develops general trade and political principles in the context of development, and the WTO deals with purely trade issues.

Essay

by discipline

"World economy"

on the topic of:

“The role of the UN in the development of the pest economy”

Vladimir 2011

Introduction

For many years now, the world community has relied on the United Nations, which is global in nature, to solve the most important problems in the field of international economic relations. There are more and more political problems in the world. The UN is trying to resolve them, but at the same time its role in resolving economic issues is increasing. More and more new areas in international economic relations are becoming the subject of detailed analysis, study, and ways to resolve this or that issue. For example, the UN helped develop key economic indicators that are now used around the world. At the same time, the structure of the organization itself is becoming more complex and new institutions are emerging, the number of countries participating in its activities is increasing, and the number of contacts with both international and national organizations is growing. various countries.

With the development of international economic relations, deepening specialization and international division of labor, the need for quick and effective decision-making regarding international problems and economic activity countries

But still, the United Nations is primarily political in nature. This can be seen based on the principles enshrined in the Charter. It does not contain any specifically stated principles on which economic cooperation of both these states and the whole world would be based. However, there are a number of principles that describe economic cooperation between states, but they are not specifically highlighted and relate to general principles cooperation between countries belonging to the World Trade Organization.

1. The role of the UN system in the development of multilateral regulation of IEO

The activities of the UN are increasingly influencing the nature and development of the most important socio-economic processes at the global and national levels. Being an international forum for discussing and making purely political decisions on the most pressing issues in almost all spheres of human activity and international relations, the UN determines priorities, goals and strategies for the development of international cooperation in the formation of the world economic space.

The UN activities are carried out in four main areas:

1)overcoming global economic problems;

2)assistance in cooperation to countries with different levels of economic development;

)promoting economic growth in developing countries;

)finding solutions to problems related to regional development.

To solve these problems, the following forms of activity are used:

. Information activities.Its goal is to influence countries in the field of economic policy. The result of this work can only be seen in the future. Statistical data from various fields is collected and processed, analyzed, and on the basis of this, states receive information regarding economic development.

. Technical and advisory activities.It manifests itself in the form of assistance to various countries in technically. But when providing such assistance, the principles of non-interference in the internal affairs of a given country must be used, the technology must be truly High Quality and must be provided in a form suitable for the country concerned.

. Monetary and financial activities.It is carried out with the help of international organizations: the International Finance Corporation, the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the International Monetary Fund, the International Development Association. From a formal point of view, all these organizations are specialized units UN.

There are six main organs of the UN mentioned in the Charter. But within the framework of economic cooperation, three of them are distinguished: the General Assembly, the Economic and Social Council and the Secretariat.

General Assemblyis essentially a forum for discussing the most important problems of an economic nature. The Assembly may, at its discretion, establish organizations for international cooperation of states in various fields, such as the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), etc.

Economic and Social Council(ECOSOC) - next in importance after the General Assembly. He \coordinates the activities of the UN in the socio-economic sphere. The main body of ECOSOC is the council session. Every year three sessions are held on different issues: spring - on humanitarian and socio-legal issues, summer - on socio-economic issues and an organizational session. Its main functions: qualified discussion and development of the main political line on the most important world issues, coordination of activities on socio-economic issues, research in the field of international cooperation and socio-economic development. Thus, the Economic and Social Council coordinates the activities of its standing committees, various commissions and subcommissions, regional economic commissions, as well as UN specialized agencies.

UN Secretariat- an administrative and executive body designed to ensure the normal functioning of UN institutions and agencies performing certain functions. Most of the Secretariat employees work for the economic service. The UN economic service includes several divisions, the largest of which is the Department of Economic and Social Affairs.

Many UN organizations carry out their activities in the field of international economic relations. The Conference on Trade and Development, although not a trade organization, involves almost all UN member countries. It promotes the development of world trade, ensures compliance with the rights of countries in cooperation, develops principles and recommendations, as well as mechanisms for the functioning of relations between countries, and participates in the activities of other UN economic agencies.

The United Nations Industrial Development Organization promotes the industrialization of developing countries. This organization provides both material assistance and develops recommendations on the use of resources, setting up production, conducting research and development, and creating special bodies for production management.

The UN Development Program is a program to provide assistance to developing countries in critical sectors of the economy. It includes technical, pre-investment and investment assistance.

The UN Food and Agriculture Organization is involved in coordinating the activities of other organizations to provide assistance of a material and non-material nature.

The UN Economic Commission for Europe solves problems of an environmental nature, in the field of efficient use of energy and in the transport and forestry sectors (from an environmental perspective).

The Economic Commission for Africa provides advice on the economic development of the African continent. The Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean performs the same functions, only for this region.

Economic and Social Commission for Asia and Pacific Ocean promotes regional economic cooperation, technology transfer, investment and infrastructure development in the region.

The Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia creates favorable conditions for the development of cooperation in various fields and strengthens economic relations.

2. The current role of the UN system institutions in regulating the world economy

The UN is characterized by great institutional diversity, manifested in the wide representativeness of both its members and organizations cooperating with the UN. Firstly, The UN is a collection of bodies(General Assembly, Economic and Social Council, Secretariat, etc.). Secondly, the UN acts as a system of organizations consisting of specialized and other independent institutions ( The World Bank, International Monetary Fund, United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, United Nations Industrial Development Organization, etc.).

Many UN specialized agencies play an active role in the development and unification of economic policies, analyze the state of international markets and infrastructure, and promote the harmonization of rules and procedures of private commercial law. Among the regulatory functions of the UN and agencies responsible for developing standards for regulating international business, the most important are the following:

· implementation of agreements on areas of state jurisdiction (General Assembly), which helps determine which country has jurisdiction over a particular land and water territory, airspace, stipulating, for example, the conditions for transportation or mining;

· implementation of agreements on intellectual property rights ( World organization intellectual property - WIPO). The export of high-tech products and the protection of trademarks and patents would be difficult without adherence to strictly regulated intellectual property rights, the protection of which is ensured through WIPO and TRIPS (Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights Agreement).

· unification of economic terms, systems of measures and indicators (UN Statistical Commission, UN Commission on International Trade Law - UNCITRAL, etc.). Almost all UN bodies provide some degree of standardization, which facilitates objective international comparisons;

· development and coordination of international rules commercial activities(UNCITRAL, United Nations Conference on Trade and Development - UNCTAD). Regulating commercial activities strictly through the proposed instruments and procedures undoubtedly promotes trade and logically links global flows of goods and information,

· preventing damage to goods and services on world markets and ensuring cost compensation (UNCITRAL, International Organization civil aviation, International Maritime Organization, International Union telecommunications, Universal Postal Union). Without effective agreements to prevent damage to shipping companies and goods, as well as guarantees for the preservation of information, businesses would be less willing to conduct international business transactions.

· combating economic crimes (UN Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice). Criminal activity creates an additional financial burden for law-abiding businesses, as it indirectly encourages corruption, restricts free competition and inevitably increases security costs;

· collection, analysis and dissemination of reliable economic information that facilitates the conclusion of international agreements (UNCITRAL, UNCTAD, World Bank), helps countries and companies in assessing markets, comparing their own resources and capabilities and developing foreign economic strategies.

The issues of investment in developing countries and the development of small and medium-sized businesses are currently among the most pressing. They affect any UN agency with a mandate in the field of economic development. Leading among them are the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP). UNIDO is making the necessary efforts to enhance the economic potential of developing countries and countries with economies in transition through the development of their industrial enterprises. The advice provided by UNIDO is intended to help these countries overcome social and economic difficulties and achieve greater and more successful participation in international cooperation.

UNDP promotes business development through financing and support mechanisms for private and public companies in developing countries. UNDP and UNCTAD, among other UN agencies, regularly attract business representatives to participate in forums and seminars on economic issues

3. UN Conference on Trade and Development - UNCTAD: place and role in regulating IEO

conference international economic world

Created, according to a resolution of the General Assembly, in 1964 as a special permanent body of the UN. This is a representative multilateral trade and economic organization. The first session of the Conference took place in Geneva in 1964 (Switzerland). Membership in UNCTAD is open to any member state of the UN, specialized agencies of the UN and the International Atomic Energy Agency. Subsequently, UNCTAD sessions were held every four years. The last session took place in Midrand (South Africa) in May 1996. The next X session was held in 2000 in Thailand.

UNCTAD members are 186 UN member states, including Russia and 3 members representing specialized agencies.

Goals and main activities of UNCTAD

Objectives of UNCTAD:

  • promoting international trade to accelerate economic growth and development, especially in developing countries;
  • establishing principles and policies relating to international trade and related economic development issues, particularly in the areas of finance, investment, technology transfer;
  • reviewing and facilitating the organization of activities of other agencies within the UN system in the field of international trade and related economic development issues;
  • taking, if necessary, measures to negotiate and approve multilateral legal instruments in the field of trade;
  • harmonizing the policies of governments and regional economic groupings in the field of trade and related development, acting as the center of such harmonization. The activities of UNCTAD are based on the functions defined by resolution 1995 (XIX) of the UN General Assembly.

The main activities of UNCTAD are as follows.

. Regulation of trade and economic relations between states;development of concepts and principles for the development of world trade. A special place in this activity is occupied by the development of the “Principles of International Trade Relations and Trade Policy”. These are: the implementation of trade and other economic relations between countries on the basis of equality, respect for sovereignty, non-interference in the internal affairs of countries and mutual benefit; inadmissibility of discrimination and methods of economic pressure in any form; consistent and universal application of most favored nation treatment in all matters of trade, with developed countries providing special benefits in favor of developing countries; the abolition of preferences enjoyed by certain developed countries in developing countries; facilitating access of goods from third countries to the markets of member countries of economic groupings; stabilization of commodity markets through the conclusion of international commodity stabilization agreements; improving the commodity structure of exports of developing countries by increasing the share of finished products and semi-finished products; helping to improve the invisible trade of these countries; economic and technical assistance and the provision of preferential, public and private loans by developed countries to developing countries in order to complement and facilitate the efforts of the latter without any conditions unacceptable to them of a political, economic, military or other nature. Subsequently, these principles formed the basis of the “Charter of Economic Rights and Duties of States” developed within the framework of UNCTAD (1976). The resolution adopted by the 1st session of UNCTAD notes the need to: stop the further growth of protectionism, reduce and eliminate quantitative restrictions on trade; the adoption by developed countries of measures to abolish the application of anti-dumping procedures and countervailing duties that harm third countries; push for changes in the international trading system with a view to improving and strengthening it through respect for most favored nation principles; renunciation of economic coercive measures - policies of trade restrictions, blockades, embargoes and other economic sanctions against developing countries.

The IX session of UNCTAD, held in 1996 and dedicated to the problem of “promoting growth and sustainable development in the context of globalization and liberalization of the world economy,” determined further directions for UNCTAD’s activities in the field of trade and development, aimed at the full integration of developing countries, especially the least developed countries, and countries with economies in transition world economy and into the system of world economic relations. These goals and special practical recommendations were formulated in the Final Act of the session entitled “Partnership for Growth and Development”. The conference also adopted a declaration that recognizes the different starting points and varying impacts of globalization on individual countries and emphasizes the importance of strengthening cooperation between developed and developing countries, between developing countries themselves, between multilateral organizations, as well as dialogue and cooperation between public and private sectors to strengthen development cooperation.

The start of the IX session of UNCTAD was preceded by a meeting of the Group of 77 at the ministerial level and meetings of ministers of the three regional groups, at which issues of stimulating growth and development in the context of liberalization and globalization of the world economy were preliminary discussed.

. Development of measures to regulate international trade in commodities.UNCTAD plays a leading role in the entire system of international organizations involved in regulating global commodity markets. These issues are considered both at the sessions of UNCTAD and the Trade and Development Board, and at various special meetings held within the framework of UNCTAD.

As a result of intergovernmental negotiations held within the framework of UNCTAD, a number of international commodity agreements were concluded; study groups on commodities have been established, in which producing and consuming countries participate; Conventions and agreements have been signed in various fields. In the system of regulation of world commodity markets, an important role was played by the Integrated Program for Commodity Commodities - IPST, the decision to develop which was made at the IV session of UNCTAD in 1976. The objective of the program was to improve conditions on world markets for 18 commodities with special important for export to developing countries. To this end, an agreement was signed in 1980 to establish a Common Commodity Fund to finance commodity buffer stocks provided for in individual commodity agreements under the IPCT. The ultimate goal of the IPTA is to stabilize commodity prices on world markets and increase the participation of developing countries in the processing and marketing of the commodities they produce.

. Development of measures and means of ready-made policies and economic cooperation.UNCTAD created a Generalized System of Preferences for imports of goods from developing countries, which came into force in 1976; developed: measures to eliminate tariff barriers; major activities to assist developing countries in economic restructuring; new forms of agreements on industrial and trade cooperation. At the VI (1983) and VII (1987) sessions of UNCTAD, the main problems of enhancing economic development and international trade on the basis of multilateral cooperation were formulated; current economic trends are assessed, including the role of the private sector in development, as well as global structural changes; policies and measures have been developed in the following areas: resources for development, monetary issues; commodities; international trade; problems of the least developed countries. In the Final Act following the VII session, the listed problems were assigned to UNCTAD as the main directions of its activities. This has contributed to strengthening UNCTAD's mandate to operate in virtually all areas of world trade. The eighth session of UNCTAD recognized the need for institutional adjustments to take advantage of new opportunities in international development cooperation, including the development of guidelines for expanding UNCTAD work in the area of ​​sustainable development (trade-environment policy interface, sustainable management of natural resources, resources, environmentally sound technologies, the impact of production and consumption practices on sustainable development).

. Promoting the development of economic cooperation between developing countries;negotiating the creation of a global system of preferences among developing countries; development of an action program for the world community to help overcome the economic backwardness of the least developed countries.

Conducting meetings of experts, government representatives, diplomatic negotiation conferences with the aim of coordinating the policies of governments and regional economic groupings on the development of world trade and other problems.

In addition to issues directly related to international trade, UNCTAD deals with a wide range of other issues of international economic cooperation: currencies and finance; shipping; technology transfer insurance; economic cooperation between developing countries; special measures in favor of least developed, island and landlocked developing countries. In 1992, UNCTAD member states decided on a new partnership for development - the Cartagena Agreement (UNCTAD-VIII). The agreement sets out policies and measures in the interrelated areas of finance, trade, commodities, technology and services, and provides recommendations to address both long-standing and emerging trade and development challenges. The analytical part of the activity includes a systematic study of the influence of national and international politics development, with the main focus on management issues.

The regulation of global transport problems has become important. Within the framework of UNCTAD, the following were developed: the Convention on Transit Trade of Landlocked States (1965); Code of Conduct for Liner Conferences (Shipowners' Cartels) (1974); UN Convention on International Multimodal Transport of Goods (1980).

. Regulating restrictive business practicescarried out through the development of a Code of multilaterally agreed upon principles and rules for the control of restrictive business practices, as well as various measures to regulate the activities of transnational corporations. For many years, UNCTAD has been working to create a Code of Conduct in the field of technology transfer.

. Conducting analytical work on a wide range of problems.In particular, the IX session of UNCTAD (1996) identified four important areas:

globalization and development,including the study of specific issues relating to the participation in international trade and investment of developing countries, to the promotion of their growth and development, to the monitoring of the implementation of the Program of Action for the Least Developed Countries for the 1990s;

investments, development of enterprises and technologies, including the preparation of printed publications with analysis of investment data, assistance in the development and implementation of development strategies at enterprises; determination of policy directions for technological development and innovation;

international trade in goods and servicesand preparation of printed publications on assisting developing countries in the development of the service sector; on issues related to competition law, promotion integration processes in matters of trade, protection environment and development;

development of infrastructure in the service sector withwith the aim of increasing the efficiency of trade, in particular through the development of global telecommunications networks, modern means transfer of information, implementation of training programs.

UNCTAD publishes the following publications: Least Developed Countries Reports; UNCTAD Bulletin; Transnational corporations; Science and Technology Today; Rating system advanced technologies; Sea transport; Commodity prices; UNCTAD Review is a monthly newsletter.

It was decided to create a computerized data bank at UNCTAD on measures affecting trade in services. It should be an important tool in supporting the efforts of developing countries to participate more effectively in international trade in services.

. Acting as a forumto analyze the discussion and compare government positions different countries on a wide range of issues of international economic relations, as well as for negotiations between various groups of countries on a number of specific issues of international trade and development.

. Promoting coordination of activities within the UNon international trade issues; preparation of documents for the General Assembly, ECOSOC and other organizations on the development of world economic relations; cooperation on a number of aspects of international trade with the regional commissions of the UN ECOSOC.

. Cooperation with international economic organizationsprimarily with the WTO, with the UNCTAD/WTO International Trade Centre, in order to eliminate duplication and harmonize areas of activity.

The highest body of UNCTAD is the Conference(two concepts should be distinguished: Conference as the name of the organization itself and Conference as the name of the supreme body). The Conference meets in sessions held once every four years at ministerial level to determine the main directions of policy and resolve issues related to the program of work. A total of 10 sessions were held.

I session - in 1964 in Geneva (Switzerland); II - in 1968 - in Delhi (India); III - in 1972 - in Santiago (Chile); IV - in 1976 - in Nairobi (Kenya); V - in 1979 - in Manila (Philippines); VI - in 1983 - in Belgrade (Yugoslavia); VII - in 1987 - in Geneva (Switzerland); VIII - in 1992 - in Cartagena (Colombia); IX - in 1996 - in Midrand (South Africa), X - in 2000 - Thailand.

With the creation of the WTO, opinions began to be expressed almost openly about whether this organization was needed at all. However, an understanding has now been reached that UNCTAD is necessary for the world community, since it develops general trade and political principles in the context of the development of the world economy, and the WTO mainly retains purely trade issues.

Decisions taken by consensus at UNCTAD sessions are not legally binding. But even at the second session it was unanimously recognized that they “must lead to actions favorable to international trade.” Thus, UNCTAD documents are formally less binding than the WTO. Such documents include, for example, the Principles of International Trade Relations and Trade Policy to Promote Development and the Charter of Economic Rights and Responsibilities of States.

In the field of trade in finished goods and semi-finished goods, which account for 3/4 of world trade, the most important UNCTAD action was the creation of the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP), which has been in operation since 1971. This system provides for the reduction or elimination of customs duties by all industrialized countries in trade with developing countries. states on a non-reciprocal basis, i.e. without demands from the latter for counter trade and political concessions. Although many donor countries have made various types of exceptions from their schemes of such preferences (in relation to certain groups of goods and countries receiving preferences), the GSP plays a large role in promoting the expansion of exports of manufactured products from countries that are lagging behind in economic development.

UNCTAD sessions are multilateral economic forums held within the UN system. Most UNCTAD decisions on the substance of the issues under consideration are not binding and are advisory in nature. During the past first seven sessions of UNCTAD, more than 160 resolutions were adopted; the number of resolutions developed at regular and special sessions of the Trade and Development Council exceeded 400. Within the framework of UNCTAD, a wide range of other multilateral documents have been developed: conventions, agreements, agreed conclusions, codes with varying legal force.

The executive body of UNCTAD is the Trade Counciland Development, which provides work between sessions of the Conference. The Council submits annual reports on its activities to the Conference and the General Assembly through ECOSOC. Access to the Council is open to all member countries of UNCTAD. In 1996 the number of members was 115.

The Trade and Development Council holds regular sessions once a year in the fall for 10 days. In addition, the Council holds special sessions, commissions and other subsidiary bodies on a wide range of global trade and economic issues. At regular sessions, issues of global politics and the interdependence of the economies of the world are discussed; problems of trade and monetary and financial relations; trade policy, structural adjustment and economic reform. The Council exercises control over the entire scope of UNCTAD's activities, oversees the implementation of the Program of Action for the Least Developed Countries, as well as the New UN Program for African Development.

Working bodies of the Councilsince 1997 are commissionswho coordinate activities in the areas assigned to them: investment, technology and financial issues; on trade in goods and services; on the development of private entrepreneurship. The commissions held their first sessions in 1997. A maximum of 10 annual meetings of ad hoc working group experts are planned. The commissions replaced the four standing committees that had been in place until 1996.

Secretariatforms part of the UN Secretariat and is headed by the Secretary General. It consists of two services: policy coordination; external relations, as well as nine departments; (1) commodities; (2) international trade; (3) service sector and trade efficiency; (4) economic cooperation between developing countries and special programs; (5) global interdependence; (6) trans-national corporations and investments; (7) science and technology; (8) least developed countries; (9) services in the field of management and operational support of programs. It also includes united divisions that work together with regional commissions. The Secretariat serves two subsidiary bodies of ECOSOC - the Commission on International Investment and Transnational Corporations and the Commission on Science and Technology for Development.

The activities of UNCTAD have had a significant impact on the entire multilateral system of international trade regulation. In particular, this determined the implementation of the modernization of the GATT. A new fourth part has appeared as part of the General Agreement, which recognizes the special role and special place of developing countries in international economic relations. The activities of UNCTAD are also associated with changes in the activities of the IMF and the World Bank, expressed in a certain turn to the needs of developing countries and especially the least developed. UNCTAD initiated the provision of non-reciprocal and non-discriminatory preferences representing important elements modern system of regulation of international trade. UNCTAD has made a significant contribution to the creation of a new comprehensive system for regulating world commodity markets.

Conclusion

In addition to regulatory functions, UN specialized agencies develop long-term strategies and tools regarding the problems of the world economy on the basis of international expert advice and agreements with governments and offer the world community possible ways to solve them.

UNCTAD's terms of reference cover virtually all relevant economic and legal aspects of modern international trade and related economic development issues.

Within the framework of UNCTAD, it has developed and acquired modern role The “Group of 77”, named after the number of developing countries that have created a common platform for protecting their economic interests in international trade. The Group of 77 played an important role in shaping the UN's international strategy on economic issues and relations with developing countries. UNCTAD has developed and is implementing new organizational forms of work that make it possible to find a balance of interests of different countries and different groups of countries on problems of international economic cooperation. Characteristic of UNCTAD's work is the preliminary determination of positions within each group of countries, which ensures a more balanced consideration of the interests of the represented countries when developing common decisions.

UNCTAD plays a key role within the UN system in addressing issues of international trade, finance, investment and technology, in particular by helping developing countries create enterprises and develop entrepreneurship. The UNCTAD Commission on Entrepreneurship, Business Facilitation and Development promotes the development and implementation of strategies for effective business development, promotes dialogue between private and public sectors. UNCTAD's technical cooperation projects include the Automated Customs Data Processing System, the Trade Point Network Program, and the EMPRETEC Program.

The project of an automated customs data processing system helps to modernize customs procedures and the management of customs services, which significantly simplifies the bureaucratic component of foreign economic activity.

A number of UN system entities work with specific groups of private sector entities based on their specific areas of expertise. Other agencies, such as the United Nations Development Program and the World Bank, maintain relationships with a wide range of organizations in the business community. In addition to bilateral relations, the participation of business groups in the activities of the UN can be ensured through the institutionalization of such participation in the structure of the international organization. An example is the International Labor Organization (ILO), which has existed since 1919, where workers' and employers' representatives are given equal opportunities as government representatives to influence the development of ILO policy.

Thus, the UN plays a big role in regulating international economic relations. And, despite the fact that there are certain difficulties in functioning, for more than fifty years the most important economic and political issues have been resolved with its help.

Bibliography

1.Avdokushin E.F. International economic relations. - M.: Yurist, 2006 - 466 p.

2.Bedjaoui M. International Court of Justice: past and future, 1995, No. 2, p. 42

.Zaitseva O.G. International organizations: decision making. M., 1989

.Ivanov I. Russia and the UN: reliable partners in the name of common goals // World Economy and International Relations, 2004, No. 3, p. 10-16

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Similar works to - The role of the UN in the development of the pest economy

The most important sectoral body of the UN in the field of economic cooperation is the international organization UN Conference on Trade and Development(UNCTAD).

This is an autonomous body of the General Assembly, created by it in 1964 on the basis of the Conference of the same name held in the same year under the auspices of the UN (from which this body retained its name). Almost all UN member states participate in UNCTAD. Now it has 186 member countries, including Russia. The seat of UNCTAD is Geneva (Switzerland).

UNCTAD protects the economic interests of developing countries by sponsoring international trade agreements to improve export earnings from food and minerals.

The conference negotiates reductions in tariffs and quotas on exports of developing country products to developed countries, and provides comprehensive economic assistance programs for its members.

Main goals– formation of principles and policies of international trade, development of recommendations in this area, preparation of multilateral legal acts in the field of international trade, harmonization of the policies of governments and regional economic groupings in trade and related aspects of economic development; assistance in coordinating the activities of other UN agencies on international trade, etc.

With the creation of the WTO, opinions began to be expressed almost openly about whether this organization was needed at all. However, an understanding has now been reached that UNCTAD is necessary for the world community, because this organization develops general trade and political principles in the context of the development of the world economy, and the WTO mainly retains purely trade issues.

UNCTAD prepares recommendations to the General Assembly on organizational and legal issues of equal cooperation in the field of foreign economic relations, including issues of foreign trade lending and settlement of external debt. Together with the UN Statistical Commission, it develops standards for accounting for foreign trade activities.

UNCTAD operates on a group basis: member states are divided into four groups according to socio-economic and geographical principles.

UNCTAD decisions take the form of resolutions, statements, etc. and are of a recommendatory nature.

The main functions of UNCTAD are:

1) encouragement of international trade, especially with the aim of accelerating economic development, in particular trade between countries at different levels of development and different social and economic systems;

2) establishing principles and policies relating to international trade and related development issues;

3) assistance to other UN bodies and agencies in international trade and development;

4) assistance in negotiations and approval of multilateral legal acts in the field of trade;

5) harmonization of the policies of governments and regional economic groupings in the field of trade and development.

Supreme body of UNCTADConference, which meets at Sessions every 4 years (usually at the level of ministers and heads of government), in order to determine the main directions of policy and resolve issues related to the program of work.

Executive body of UNCTADTrade and Development Council, within which there are 7 specialized committees: on raw materials, industrial goods, invisible items (services) and financing, on maritime transport, on economic cooperation between developing countries, on technology transfer, on preferences.

The Council ensures the continuity of the organization's work in the period between sessions of the Conference and holds two sessions annually (spring and autumn). It reports to the General Assembly through the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).

To the number the most important achievements of UNCTAD's activities should include, in particular:

1) development common system preferences from economically developed countries for the exports of developing countries (1968 (this system provides for the reduction or abolition of customs duties by all industrialized countries in trade with developing countries on a non-reciprocal basis, i.e. without the requirement of the latest counter trade and political concessions) ;

2) creation of a global system of trade preferences between developing countries (1989);

In addition, UNCTAD developed drafts of a number of conventions, incl. in the field of maritime transport. UNCTAD also created Automated system customs data (ASIKADA) based on the use of computerization during customs clearance of goods, which makes it possible to speed it up, increase government revenues and reduce the level of corruption.

Modern international economic relations between states include: foreign trade, monetary, credit and financial relations, as well as international investment and activities of international economic organizations, processes of international labor migration and, of course, processes of international economic and humanitarian assistance.

All of them are based on a legal basis, taking into account the specifics of each of the parties to the implementation of international economic relations. Moreover, if you look at international economic relations from the legal side, you can immediately distinguish four types of connections:

  • 1) international interstate relations regulated by international economic law as an independent branch of public international law;
  • 2) so-called diagonal international economic relations, including relationships with individuals and legal entities of foreign states;
  • 3) foreign economic relations of subjects of federal states within the limits of the competence granted to them by the central authorities;
  • 4) relations implemented in the course of foreign economic activities of economic entities with the aim of systematically obtaining profits through foreign economic transactions.

It is these relations between individuals and legal entities of different states that play a dominant role in the implementation of foreign economic activity, thereby determining the basis of international economic relations.

The history of the development of international economic law dates back to the 17th century, when, at the conclusion of the Treaty of Westphalia in 1648, the principle of the dominance of a sovereign territorial state was proclaimed, which laid the foundation for sovereign and economic activity within the framework of a state-territorial entity.

However, already in the 19th century. the framework of this fundamental principle has become narrow for the economic activity of countries that have entered the era of concluding interstate treaties and alliances. As a result, already from the second half of the 19th century. trends towards the development of institutional cooperation based on the conclusion of agreements have been clearly identified. One of the first unions and organizations formed on the basis of multilateral treaties. One of the first unions and organizations formed on the basis of multilateral treaties was the International Telegraph Union in 1865, which was later transformed into the International Telecommunications Union (IT), as one of the independent specialized agencies of the UN; The Universal Postal Union (UPU), with the same status, established in 1874, as well as the International Labor Organization (ILO), created in 1919.

Gradually, this form of international cooperation became the main one. However, objective processes of expansion and deepening of interstate cooperation after the end of the Second World War and the creation of the UN led to the interdependence of the economies of individual countries and regions from each other, and at the same time to such a modern phenomenon as globalization, which “gradually influences the world where states and countries' economies are becoming increasingly interdependent. In the future, the problems of developing the world economy and ensuring economic progress in all regions will come to the fore. International economic law is developing accordingly. The powers of relevant international economic organizations, especially interstate organizations of an economic nature, will also expand.”

All this in its entirety determines both the specific range of social relations and the specific nature of legal norms governing international relations in the economic field on the basis of an extensive volume of normative and legal material recognized by all participants in international economic relations. “Thus, international economic law, as a set of international legal norms and principles governing relations in the field of international economic relations, meets all the conditions and criteria of an independent branch of international law, has its own institutions and sub-growths.” Thus implementing the coordinating function, based on unshakable adherence to the following fundamental principles:

  • ? the inalienable sovereignty of states over their natural wealth and natural resources;
  • ? freedom to choose the form of organizing one’s foreign economic relations;
  • ? economic non-discrimination;
  • ? equality and mutual benefit of member states of international economic organizations;
  • ? mutually beneficial cooperation in the field of trade, economic development, science, technology;
  • ? prohibition of unlawful economic coercion;
  • ? most favored nation or the principle of respect for most favored nation treatment trade and economic relationships;
  • ? reciprocity;
  • ? compliance with the national regime;
  • ? preferential treatment in trade and economic relations.

Strict adherence to the listed principles applies to all areas of modern international economic law, including:

  • ? international trade law, which regulates the exchange of goods, including trade in services and rights;
  • ? international financial law regulating the movement of financial flows, monetary, credit and settlement relationships;
  • ? the law of international economic assistance, which includes a set of rules governing the movement of material and intangible resources that are not goods in the generally recognized sense;
  • ? international labor law regulating the movement of capital (investments).

The specific form of existence of legal norms of various directions are:

  • ? regional agreements;
  • ? bilateral agreements;
  • ? multilateral treaties;
  • ? decisions of international organizations adopted by UN bodies, its specialized institutions, as well as resolutions of regional economic organizations;
  • ? decisions of interstate economic conferences and forums.

“The norms of international economic law enshrine those initial models of behavior of states, those legal regulations addressed to all subjects of this law, those international obligations of states that they must observe in practice, in their relationships in the economic sphere. Therefore, compliance by states with their international obligations in the economic sphere forms the basis of the international economic legal order... The foundation of the international economic legal order is the principles of international law in general and the principles of international economic law in particular.” First of all, these include the fundamental documents of the UN, the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade in Services, the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIP/TRIPS) and the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Investment Measures (TRIM/TRIMS).

No legal issue is complete without defining the concept of subject. The subject of international economic law is the bearer sovereign rights and responsibilities, which in practice is most directly related to the territory of the state and the people living in it. This means that among the main subjects of international law, in first place are sovereign states, which is especially emphasized in the 1970 UN Declaration of Principles of International Law, which states that “every state has the obligation to respect the legal personality of other states.” International companies have the same quality. economic organizations.

Other participants in modern international economic relations, as a rule, are transnational corporations (TNCs), building their activities on the basis of the Charter of Economic Rights and Responsibilities of 1974 and the Convention on Transnational Corporations of 1998.

According to official UN data, the number of TNCs in beginning of XXI V. exceeded 50 thousand with more than 450 thousand foreign branches. Their investments in the world economy exceed $3.5 trillion annually, and the export of capital exceeds the growth of world GDP and total world exports. Today, TNCs control about a third of the world's total industrial production and account for approximately the same share of world exports. This means that, as a result of global processes, the concentration of transnational capital is only a quarter of the entire world economy, and it can actually operate in a regime of free competition. From here, the most natural way follows the special importance and significance of the legal regulation of the economic activities of TNCs.

In connection with the increasing activity of TNCs at the international level, the role of the state in regulating international economic relations is growing sharply. At the same time, domestic regulation presupposes the subordination of the activities of TNC branches to the national legislation of the country. Another direction of the state's regulatory influence is manifested in investment agreements concluded by host countries.

Regional regulation of the activities of TNCs has become most widespread in the modern world. For example, in 1976, the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises were adopted, on the basis of which a complex mechanism is built to ensure a regime of more or less free competition in the industrialized countries of the world. The situation is much more complicated in the developing group, and in particular, the subgroup of the least developed countries of the world, where TNCs exploit their natural wealth and resources to the fullest extent possible, including the cheap labor of the local population.

Naturally, the noted processes could not but affect the post-Soviet states, which already in 1994 concluded the first regulatory document on the creation of their own regional TNCs within the CIS: “Agreement on assistance in the creation and development of commercial, credit, financial and mixed associations.” Also in 1994, the “Agreement on the Establishment of a Payment Union” was adopted within the CIS. In 1998, the CIS member countries signed the Convention on TNCs, which contains the legal basis for cooperation in the field of their creation and activities throughout the post-Soviet space. And today, according to official data, there are already more than two thousand TNC subsidiaries operating in the CIS countries.

Other subjects of international economic law today are actively represented by various regional and interregional international economic organizations, including UNCTAD, UNIDO, UNDP, UN regional economic commissions, as well as the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNISTRAL).

Of the international monetary and financial organizations and credit organizations, mention should be made of the International Bank for Development and Reconstruction, International Association Development Bank, the International Finance Corporation, the International Monetary Fund, the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA), the European Bank for Development and Reconstruction, the Inter-American Development Bank, the Asian Development Bank and the African Development Bank, as well as two specific organizations such as the London and Paris Clubs. And although the Paris Club does not have the status of an international organization, its role in interstate regulation of credit and financial obligations is enormous. The club was created to develop multilateral agreements between creditor states in relation to debtor states experiencing difficulties in paying off public debts.

The main goal of the club is to prevent debtor states from declaring unilateral moratoriums on the age of positions, which could negatively affect the development of world economic ties.

In this regard, guided by the principles of national sovereignty of debtor states, the Club considers requests from debtor states only if failure to pay the debt on time turns out to be inevitable and economically conditioned, and takes a strictly individual approach to each debtor state; stipulates a review of the procedure and timing of debt repayment; distributes losses from the revision of debt obligations evenly among all creditor states.

Members of the Paris Club today are: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Great Britain, Germany, Denmark, Spain, Italy, Canada, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Russia, USA, Finland, France, Sweden, Switzerland, Japan, i.e. almost all industrialized countries of the world.

In contrast to the Paris Club, the London Club represents a multilateral mechanism that is not an international organization created for the purpose of developing fundamental agreements with debtor countries experiencing difficulties in paying interbank, non-state debts. The London Club unites more than 600 commercial creditor banks under the representation of the German Deutsche Bank. Like the Paris Club, the London Club in its activities is guided by a strictly individual approach when dealing with critical non-payments, stipulating, if necessary, the terms and mechanisms for their repayment and with an equal redistribution of losses inevitable during debt restructuring among all its members.

Of the regional and interregional commercial organizations and communities that play an important international legal role, we should first of all note European Union and the European Communities, the North American Free Trade Area and the Asia-Pacific Economic Community.

Among the regional and interregional branches of associations and organizations, first of all it is necessary to point out the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), the Association of Exporting Countries iron ore(APEC), the Organization of Tungsten Exporting Countries (OTEC), the Association of Tin Producing Countries (ATPO), the International Association of Bauxite Mining Countries (IABC) and the Intergovernmental Union of Copper Exporting Countries (CIPEC). That is, international organizations associated with the extraction and sale of natural resources that are strategically important for the modern economy, the shortage of which could potentially lead to an imbalance, and in some cases, inevitable paralysis of the system of world economic relations of our time, which is more or less balanced by international legal agreements.

  • Kovalev AL. International economic law and the law of regulation of international economic activity. M.: Scientific book, 2007.
  • Right there. P. 26.
  • Kovalev AL. International economic law and the law of regulation of international economic activity. P. 33.
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