Includes Zambia’s engagement in multilateral institutions such as the World Trade Organisation and UN bodies dealing with trade issues such as UNCTAD and the International Trade Centre.
THE WORLD TRADE ORGANISATION: WTO was established in 1995 as a rules-based multilateral trading system and as a successor organisation to the 1947 General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT 1947). Its sets rules through a negotiated process, where all the 160 members participate on an equal footing. Decisions are taken by consensus. The Highest Decision making body is the Ministerial Conference, which meets at least once every two years.
Other topical issues under the WTO include the implementation of the Trade Facilitation Agreement.
UNITED NATIONS CONFERENCE ON TRADE AND DEVELOPMENT (UNCTAD): this is the focal point for Trade and Development within the UN system. It was established in 1964 with trade and development at the core of its mandate. UNCTAD holds every four years a Conference to reflect on emerging issues and provide mandates on identified areas of focus.
INTERNATIONAL TRADE CENTRE (ITC): is a subsidiary body of the WTO and UNCTAD with specific mandate to promote the growth of export trade. ITC supports activities of Trade Support institutions like ZDA and also provides support to the private sector to improve their competitiveness with a view to tapping into export markets. ITC holds every year an Export Development Forum, dubbed as the World Export Development Forum.
