A/RES/49/104 Page 3 (a) An appropriate domestic environment and favourable international environment are critical for successful diversification and the creation of developmental linkages between the commodity sector and other sectors of the economy, as well as for the availability of market outlets; (b) Trade-distorting policies and practices, including tariff and non-tariff barriers, tariff escalation and obstacles to competition, have a negative effect on the ability of developing countries to diversify their exports and to undertake the requisite restructuring of their commodity sector; (c) Expansion of South-South trade in commodities offers opportunities for intersectoral linkages within and among exporting countries; (d) There is a need to promote research and development, to provide infrastructure and support services and to encourage investment, including joint ventures in developing countries engaged in the commodity and commodityprocessing sectors; 8. Emphasizes the importance for developing countries to process a significant part of their commodities, and in this regard stresses the need for new market opportunities for their processed and semi-processed commodities; 9. Expresses the need for the full implementation of the Uruguay Round agreement, taking into account the special and differential treatment agreed for developing countries, including the provisions envisaged for African countries and the least developed countries; 10. Welcomes the work being done by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development on the impact of the results of the Uruguay Round on individual commodities of particular interest to developing countries and invites the Secretary-General of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development to intensify this exercise in close collaboration with the executive secretaries of the regional commissions and other concerned organizations; 11. Notes with appreciation the work under way by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations in assessing the impact of the Uruguay Round on agricultural commodity markets, and encourages the Organization to pursue its work and to inform the General Assembly of its findings; 12. Urges producers and consumers of individual commodities to intensify their efforts aimed at reinforcing mutual cooperation and assistance; 13. Welcomes the assignment to the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development of the United Nations global mandate for mineral resources, and urges that efforts be made to mobilize financial resources to allow the Conference, in close collaboration with the regional commissions, to expand its technical assistance to developing countries in that area; 14. Also welcomes the decision of the Standing Committee on Commodities of the Trade and Development Board, urging the secretariat of the /...