Strengthening sustainable development through trade cooperation

This strategy features in the framework of Agenda 21 as formulated at UNCED (Rio de Janeiro, 1992), now coordinated by the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development and implemented through national and local authorities.

Sustainable development may be enhanced through commodity markets, which would function optimally through, inter alia, improved market transparency involving exchange of views and information on investment plans, prospects and markets for individual commodities. Substantive negotiations between producers and consumers would lead to viable and more efficient international agreements or arrangements which took into account market trends, and to the setting up of study groups. Particularly important are the agreements on cocoa, coffee, sugar and tropical timber. Also important in discussions are occupational health and safety matters, technology transfer, services associated with the production, marketing and promotion of commodities and environmental considerations.