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The São Paulo Round Protocol of the Global System of Trade Preferences among Developing Countries (GSTP) is one ratification away from entering into force, marking a major milestone for South–South trade cooperation after almost three decades of negotiations and preparations. UNCTAD estimates that implementation could generate welfare gains of up to $27 billion and tariff reductions of at least 20% on about 6,000 products.

Acting Secretary-General Moreno calls for the global energy transition to become a driver of sustainable development for mineral-rich developing countries, avoiding a repetition of past extractive models. Default image copyright and description © UNCTAD Photo | Acting Secretary-General Moreno (at the podium and on screen) spoke at a high-level meeting on critical minerals held at UN Headquarters in New York on 14 July.

On 14 July, UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD) unveils its new Commodity Dependence Dashboard. The new interactive dashboard provides direct, user-friendly access to regularly updated data, helping policymakers formulate strategies for more diversified, resilient and sustainable economies. Explore regularly updated data covering 195 Member States.

Foreign investment is not falling out of favour with governments. But the rules governing it are changing. According to the World Investment Report 2026 by UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD), governments adopted a record 229 investment policy measures in 2025. While most remained favourable to investors, policymakers are increasingly steering investment towards industries they see as critical for growth, resilience, technological leadership and economic security.

Default image copyright and description © Shutterstock/ Anna Kucherova | A copper mine in Skouriotissa, Cyprus. The industries attracting the world's capital are changing fast. International investment in artificial intelligence infrastructure, semiconductors, critical minerals and energy-transition technologies and services has surged over the past five years, becoming one of the clearest signs of how global production is being reshaped.

Each year, this intergovernmental group of experts meets to discuss ways of improving worldwide cooperation on competition policy implementation and enhancing convergence through dialogue. The United Nations Set of Principles on Competition provides the basis for intergovernmental consultations.

Latin America and the Caribbean attracted more foreign investment in 2025 than in the previous year, despite an uncertain global economy. According to the World Investment Report 2026 by UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD), foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows to the region, excluding Caribbean offshore financial centres, rose 14% to $188 billion. That represented roughly one fifth of all FDI flows to developing economies.

The World Investment Report 2026shows that global investment is up, but growth is increasingly concentrated in a narrow group of economies and sectors. Broadening its development impact remains the central challenge. Key takeaways Global foreign direct investment rose 6% to $1.6 trillion in 2025, ending two years of decline. The recovery remains fragile and uneven: inflows to developed economies rose 11%, while developing economies recorded only 2% growth, reaching $901 billion.

Global investment rises 6% to $1.6 trillion, but development gains remain uneven 07 Jul 2026 Global foreign direct investment rose 6% to $1.6 trillion in 2025, ending two years of decline, but the recovery remains narrow, fragile and uneven, according to the World Investment Report 2026 by UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD). Inflows to developed economies rose 11%, while developing economies recorded only 2% growth, reaching $901 billion.

 Press Release For use of information media - Not an official record UNCTAD/PRESS/PR/2026/005 Key takeaways Global foreign direct investment rose 6% to $1.6 trillion in 2025, ending two years of decline. The recovery remains fragile and uneven: inflows to developed economies rose 11%, while developing economies recorded only 2% growth, reaching $901 billion. Much of the increase reflected a small number of megaprojects, especially in AI-related digital infrastructure.