Business EconomyPosted at: May 8 2026 3:37PM


Global trade policy shifted towards more interventionism: UNCTAD

By Sourav Shekhar
New Delhi, May 8 (UNI) The global trade policy landscape has shifted towards more interventionism since Covid 19 in 2020, the Ukraine war in 2022, and again with US tariff hikes in 2025, said the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) report, released on Friday.
"Interventionism" refers to the policy of government interfering in either its own domestic economy or the sovereign affairs of another country, usually through coercive force or economic pressure.
To tackle this, several major economies have moved towards trade liberalisation to address supply chain resilience and address national security concerns.
"In 2025, global tariffs on exports rose significantly by 10 per cent for developed, 16 per cent for developing, and 18 per cent for least-developed countries."
The report said that after years of decline, tariffs re-emerged, and despite rising tariffs, non-tariff measures (NTMs) impose higher costs on exports for 88 per cent of countries.
NTMs refer to policy measures other than customs tariffs that can potentially have an economic effect on international trade in goods, changing traded quantities, prices, or both.
UNCTAD noted that the burden falls most heavily on smaller developer countries and least developing countries (LDCs) for which NTM-related export costs are high.
The report noted that after announcing reciprocal tariffs on April 2, 2025, the United States has signed numerous reciprocal trade agreements and framework deals.
Similar to this, other economies, such as the EU, have also accelerated the negotiations for trade agreements as access to the United States became costlier.
"Governments are increasingly using NTMs to advance objectives linked to economic nationalism and economic security, as both developed and developing economies seek not only to protect domestic industries but also to shape and secure control over key global value chains, underscoring a broader trend toward the strategic use of interdependence," the report said.
The UN report found that recent United States trade deals are focusing heavily on easy regulatory and administrative requirements for its exporters.
"Most of these include sector-specific provisions on the recognition of United States standards and conformity assessment for vehicles, pharmaceuticals, and agri-food products in bilateral trade."
The recent European union agreements with India and Mercosur emphasise mutual recognition and alignment with broader international standards rather than the recognition of standards of one of the parties.
The UNCTAD noted that South-South trade experienced great growth in recent years, as now developing countries are increasing their trade with one another.
But there's a hindrance that transparency around the trade rules is weak.
"Exporters frequently struggle to find clear, up-to-date information on trade-related regulations applied in other developing countries. The result is uncertainty, delays, and higher costs; barriers that disproportionately affect smaller firms trying to enter new markets," the report found.
The UN body suggested that, by investing in clearer rules and closer cooperation, developing countries have a real opportunity to make South-South trade into a more powerful engine of growth.
South-South trade refers to the exchange of goods, services, and capital between developing economies in Asia, Africa, Latin America, and West Asia.
UNI SAS RSA
Please log in to get detailed story.
Tags: #Global trade policy shifted towards more interventionism: UNCTAD
More News

Hyd: Dr Reddy's CFO Narasimham Named 'Best CFO in Pharmaceuticals

10 Jun 2026 | 11:33 PM

Hyderabad, June 10 (UNI) Dr. Reddy's Laboratories Ltd. on Wednesday announced that its Chief Financial Officer, M.V. Narasimham, has been honoured with the 'Best CFO in Pharmaceuticals' award at the 9th BW CFO World's Best CFO & Finance Strategy Excellence Awards 2026 organised by Businessworld.

see more..

ECLGS 5 0 guarantees cross 1 lakh mark, covers over Rs 48,000 Cr in credit protection

10 Jun 2026 | 7:09 PM

New Delhi, June 10 (UNI) The Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme (ECLGS) 5.0 has crossed a significant milestone, with the total number of guarantees issued under the scheme surpassing the 1 lakh mark as of June 9, 2026.

see more..

Telangana's Singareni gets Rs 40 cr refund for successful closure of Dorli-2 Opencast Mine

10 Jun 2026 | 6:35 PM

Hyderabad, June 10 (UNI) The Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL) has received approval for the refund of nearly Rs 40 crore, including accrued interest, from the Coal Controller Organisation (CCO) following the successful closure of the Dorli-2 Opencast Mine in Bellampalli Area in accordance with the Ministry of Coal's guidelines.

see more..

Deccan Gold signs Spain tungsten deal, targets 51% stake

10 Jun 2026 | 6:35 PM

Bengaluru, June 10 (UNI) Deccan Gold Mines Ltd has announced the signing of a definitive Earn-In, Option and Shareholders Agreement for the Logrosan Tungsten Project in Spain, marking a strategic expansion into critical minerals amid rising global demand for secure resource supply chains.

see more..

Govt extends CGSMFI-2 0, enhances loan limit for large NBFC-MFIs

10 Jun 2026 | 5:56 PM

New Delhi, June 10 (UNI): The government has approved an extension in the validity of the Credit Guarantee Scheme for Microfinance Institutions-2.0 (CGSMFI-2.0) up to August (31.8.2026) or till guarantees for an amount of Rs 20,000 crore are issued, whichever is earlier, the Finance Ministry statement said here on Wednesday.

see more..