The Weekly Tradecast by UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD)

In this episode of The Weekly Tradecast, we’re looking at the UN’s Trade and Development Report 2023 with Richard Kozul-Wright, director of UNCTAD’s globalization and development strategies division. The good news: The global economy is growing. But the recovery looks weak as many risks remain and many big economies struggle to get back to pre-COVID-19 growth levels.  The report warns of major cha...

This episode of The Weekly Tradecast talks about UNCTAD’s Review of Maritime Transport 2023 with two of the report’s authors, Jan Hoffmann and Luisa Rodriguez. The report says the volume of trade moving by ship fell slightly in 2022 during the pandemic but is expected to grow by 2.4% this year. That’s good news for the shipping industry and the global economy as more than 80% of traded goods move...

This episode of The Weekly Tradecast looks at commodities and the challenges for developing countries in adding value to exports with UNCTAD economist Clovis Freire. Commodities cover everything from oranges to oil and timber to gold. And every economy needs them to run and grow. But countries that rely very heavily on exporting commodities can face fickle swings in markets. Many developing countr...

In the second of a two-part series, this episode of the Weekly Tradecast looks at inflation with UNCTAD economist Jeronim Capaldo to see the steps being taken to contain it and how new ways of thinking might work better. When food, fuel and almost everything else gets rapidly more expensive, we see our paychecks buying less and our savings eroded. But a bit of inflation is good for economies, work...

In the first of a two-part series, this episode of the Weekly Tradecast looks at what inflation is, why we need it and when it becomes too much – with UNCTAD economist Jeronim Capaldo. These days, inflation is high as disruptions from the pandemic and the war in Ukraine drive a global cost of living crisis. Everyone is feeling the pinch, but for governments and people in developing countries, even...

This episode of The Weekly Tradecast looks at the role multilateral lenders play with UNCTAD senior economist Penelope Hawkins.  In early September, leaders from the world’s wealthiest countries meet in India for the G20 summit. With inflation and borrowing costs running high, debt and development are high on the agenda.  Multilateral development banks provide vital funding to countries in need. B...

This episode of the Weekly Tradecast looks at the illegal wildlife trade with David Vivas, an UNCTAD legal officer working on trade and environmental issues. Every year, huge numbers of animals and plants are bought and sold illicitly as food, medicine, clothing, furniture and even musical instruments. Wildlife is big business. The illegal trade is estimated to be worth at least $7 billion but it...

This episode of the Weekly Tradecast looks at how Africa can deepen global supply chains and develop its own economies at the same time, with UNCTAD director Paul Akiwumi. Geopolitical and economic disruptions have everyone from manufacturers and shippers to investors and governments looking at ways to strengthen and diversify global supply chains. The UN's latest Economic Development in Africa Re...

This episode of the Weekly Tradecast looks at rice, its importance for development and its impact on the environment with UNCTAD senior economist Miho Shirotori. Rice is a vital crop as the main source of nutrition for more than half of people around the world. Demand is only expected to soar as populations grow in Asia and Africa. Some estimates suggest the world will need almost one third more r...

This episode of the Weekly Tradecast looks at the unique challenges for landlocked countries that impede their trade and development with UNCTAD senior economist Mussie Delelegn. There are 32 developing countries without access to the sea, leaving them with far higher bills to import and export goods by road and rail. In many places, poor infrastructure and border bureaucracy add time, cost and co...

This episode of the Weekly Tradecast looks at some cheap and easy ways for all of us to be greener with UNCTAD economist Henrique Pacini. Protecting our environment is a vital task and everyone can play a part. The three Rs – Reduce, Reuse and Recycle – are a good starting point. We can cut down on plastic by using cloth shopping bags. We can take our own mugs to the coffee shop. Buying things sec...

This episode of The Weekly Tradecast talks about the growing global population and its implications for a sustainable future with Anu Peltola, who leads UNCTAD’s statistics work. The United Nations estimates there are now eight billion people on Earth, meaning the number of human beings has doubled in less than 50 years. People are living longer because of better medicine and nutrition. But a risi...

This episode of The Weekly Tradecast talks about the popularity and the pitfalls of green investing with UNCTAD economist Joseph Clements. To help protect our planet, many people want to put their money into companies that meet certain environmental, social and governance standards.  These ESG credentials are big business, attracting trillions of dollars in investment and the creation of new funds...

This episode of The Weekly Tradecast looks at the UN’s latest World Investment Report with Richard Bolwijn, in charge of UNCTAD’s investment research branch. Last year, global flows of foreign direct investment fell – after nosediving in 2020 and recovering in 2021. Developing countries did better than most as their FDI flows grew in 2022. But the heavy pressures on all economies remain from the w...

This episode of The Weekly Tradecast talks about greener and more sustainable travel, just ahead of the summer holidays, with UNCTAD economist Bruno Antunes Tourism is one of the biggest employers in the world. Many developing nations rely on it, so there’s economic urgency to getting travellers back on the road and in the air as the industry recovers from the pandemic. But there's also growing aw...

This episode of The Weekly Tradecast looks at debt – what it is, how it works and why it matters – with economist Daniel Munevar from UNCTAD’s debt and development finance branch. Inflation is high, interest rates are rising and the war in Ukraine has hit the world with a cost-of-living crisis. Every day, debt is in the news as countries, companies and ordinary people struggle to repay their loans...

This episode of The Weekly Tradecast looks at artificial intelligence and its growing presence in our lives with Angel Gonzalez, head of UNCTAD’s technology, innovation and knowledge development branch. Already we have chatbots that can write essays and driverless cars and trains. Computers can beat world chess champions and nearly human robots emulate our expressions. The real potential has not e...

This episode of The Weekly Tradecast looks at global energy prices with Janvier Nkurunziza, head of UNCTAD’s commodities branch. The war in Ukraine and disruptions in the energy supply chain have sent prices soaring and accelerated a global cost-of-living crisis. But unusually warm weather this winter and efforts by many countries to stockpile gas from other sources have brought some respite.  Sti...

As the UN prepares to mark World Environment Day, this episode of The Weekly Tradecast talks about replacing plastic with natural materials with David Vivas, an UNCTAD legal officer working on trade and environmental issues.  In 2021, the global trade in plastics was around  369 million tonnes . That’s enough to fill 18 million trucks, creating a traffic jam encircling the Earth 13 times. Less tha...

As the UN marks Africa Day on 25 May, this episode of The Weekly Tradecast looks at the impact of the global food and energy shocks on some of the most vulnerable countries with Rolf Traeger, chief of UNCTAD’s least developed countries section. The world is in one of the worst crises in modern history as the war in Ukraine hits food supplies just as many countries try to cope with extreme weather...

As the UN marks World Bee Day on the 20th of May, this episode of The Weekly Tradecast looks at why bees are so important to our environment and economies with UNCTAD agriculture and trade consultant Marisa Rodrigues. Bees, along with butterflies and beetles, are vital to our ecosystems by pollinating plants and enriching soil.   It’s tough being a bee. They get swatted and sprayed by panicked peo...

This episode of the Weekly Tradecast looks at the future of energy with UNCTAD economist Claudia Contreras. With the global population rising and supplies of fossil fuels running down, countries must harness other sources of energy to support their economies and people.  Energy sustainability and climate change are also major concerns as the burning of oil, gas and coal add to emissions that are h...

This episode of The Weekly Tradecast looks at the pros and cons of big data with Shamika N. Sirimanne, director of UNCTAD’s technology and logistics division.   Every time we send an email, tap on a social media ad or use our credit cards, we are creating digital data. The information travels around the world largely unregulated and it is the lifeblood of tech giants.   But that era may be ending...

As many countries celebrate International Workers Day on Monday, this episode of The Weekly Tradecast looks at jobs and work with UNCTAD economist Jeronim Capaldo.   With inflation and interest rates high, the risk of a global recession still looms, threatening development. In a recession, workers are often let go as sales drop and companies face pressure to meet margins and repay debts. The impac...

As the UN marks World Creativity and Innovation Day, this episode of The Weekly Tradecast looks at the creative economy with Marisa Henderson, chief of UNCTAD’s creative economy program. Ranging from theatre, music and film to advertising, fashion and computer games, it's one of the world’s fastest-growing sectors. UNCTAD says the industry – now worth at least $1.5 trillion – can power sustainable...