A/RES/55/182
progress towards liberalization and enhanced market access, including in areas and
products of particular interest to developing countries,
Noting also the importance of assisting developing countries in building their
capacity, in accordance with their national priorities, to engage effectively in
international trade,
Stressing that full and faithful implementation of the commitments and
obligations in multilateral trade agreements is important to the equitable and
sustainable development and stability of the world economy,
Strongly emphasizing the importance of providing all members of the World
Trade Organization with the opportunity to engage fully and effectively in the
process of multilateral trade negotiations and in other activities within the
multilateral trading system in order to facilitate the attainment of balanced results
with respect to the interests of all members,
Taking note of the report of the Trade and Development Board on its fortyseventh session, 6 the report of the Secretary-General on international trade and
development and on the developments in the multilateral trading system, 7 and the
report of the Secretary-General of the United Nations Conference on Trade and
Development on the transit environment in the landlocked States in Central Asia and
their transit developing neighbours, 8
Noting, in the context of international trade and development, the ongoing
work of the Commonwealth Secretariat/World Bank Joint Task Force on Small
States,
1.
Recognizes the importance of the expansion of international trade as an
engine of growth and development and, in this context, the need for expeditious and
complete integration of developing countries and countries with economies in
transition into the international trading system, in full cognizance of the
opportunities and challenges of globalization and liberalization and taking into
account the circumstances of individual countries, in particular the trade interests
and development needs of developing countries;
2.
Renews its commitment to uphold and strengthen an open, rule-based,
equitable, secure, non-discriminatory, transparent and predictable multilateral trade
system which contributes to the economic and social advancement of all countries
and peoples, including equal opportunities for women and for men, by promoting
the liberalization and expansion of trade, employment and stability and by providing
a framework for the conduct of international trade relations;
3.
Expresses concern at the declining terms of trade in most primary
commodities, in particular for net exporters of such commodities, as well as the lack
of progress in many developing countries in diversification, and, in this regard,
strongly emphasizes the need for action at both the national and the international
levels, inter alia, through improved market access conditions, addressing supply-side
constraints and support for capacity-building, including in areas that actively
involve women;
6
A/55/15 (Part IV). For the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-fifth Session,
Supplement No. 15.
7
A/55/396.
8
See A/55/320.
2