International commodity problems

XIII. RESOLUTION ADOPTED ON THE REPORTS OF THE SECOND COMMITTEE
1324. International commodity problems

The General Assembly, Having in mind the importance of export earnings to the economic development of many countries, in particular the less developed countries, and bearing in mind the fact that changes in the terms of trade have consequences on the economic development of many countries, Appreciating that a more rapid rate of expansion in the export trade of the less developed countries is of major importance for their soundly based economic development, Considering the serious problems both of a short-term and a long-term nature which confront many countries, particularly the less developed countries, as a result of excessive fluctuations in the prices of many primary products and of the impact on international trade in such products of protectionism in its varied forms, Realizing therefore the urgent need for continuing efforts to bring about more assured conditions for commodity trade and a mitigation of the difficulties at present facing many producers of both agricultural and mineral commodities, Noting Economic and Social Council resolution, 691 A (XXVI) of 31 July 1958 reconstituting the Commission on International Commodity Trade, Recognizing that, as stated in that resolution, the development of specific proposals for possible action by Governments with respect to particular commodities continues to be the responsibility mainly of inter-governmental commodity study groups, Expressing the hope that the Commission on International Commodity Trade will be able to make a greater contribution to the establishment of more assured conditions for international commodity trade, Recognizing the increasing attention which Governments are giving to commodity problems as evidenced by the work of the Committee on Commodity Problems of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and such developments as the recent establishment of a coffee study group, the meetings on copper, lead and zinc recently convened by the United Nations, the recent renegotiations of the International Sugar Agreement, the discussions taking place toward the renegotiation of the International Wheat Agreement, and the consideration currently being given by the contracting parties to the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade to the commodity aspects of international trade, Recognizing further that, for the most part, effective action with respect to given commodities will require the active co-operation of both major producing and major consuming countries in their mutual interests, Noting with satisfaction the growing tendency of Governments to broaden the scope of international study and discussion of commodity problems to cover not only price instability as such but also its underlying causes, economic effects and possible means of dealing with them,

1. Urges Governments of Member States to continue to examine, on a commodity-by-commodity basis, the question what measures may be desirable and feasible in offering solutions to particular commodity problems;

2. Supports the action taken by the Economic and Social Council under resolution 691 (XXVI) for the purpose of making the Commission on International Commodity Trade more effective, and its decision to convene the Commission early in 1959;

3. Recommends that the principal producing and consuming countries give careful consideration to the possibility of becoming parties to or actively co-operating with existing international trading arrangements dealing with the problems of commodity trade;

4. Expresses the hope that countries which do not participate in or co-operate with established international trading arrangements will refrain from the use of trade practices generally considered to be unfair which would impede or prevent the satisfactory working of those arrangements;

5. Appeals to the Governments of all Member States to increase their efforts to promote conditions favourable to the expansion of international trade and, in relation to their commercial policies and trade practices, to take into account any possible harmful repercussions which they might have, particularly on the trade of under-developed countries.

788th plenary meeting,
12 December 1958.
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