The environmental policies of rich countries are used as a tool to stimulate their own economies at the expense of developing countries. In an interview with F on this subjectfinancial times said Rebekah Greenspan, Secretary-General of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD).
He said current WTO rules prohibit many policies that developing countries could adopt. Developed countries have more opportunities to subsidize “green” industries.
Greenspan noted that the international trading system that allowed countries such as South Korea and Costa Rica to develop dynamically no longer works for the poorest countries.
They face problems entering markets due to rapid technological changes and new barriers in rich countries. “The least digitalised countries are falling further behind in the digital sphere,” said the UNCTAD chief.
Greenspan criticized the protectionist measures of the US and the EU, especially subsidies for electric vehicle and semiconductor production. According to him, developing countries see these measures as protectionism but do not have the resources for similar subsidies.
The UNCTAD Secretary-General also condemned EU attempts to limit raw material exports from Indonesia and introduce carbon taxes on steel and cement in developing countries. This, he said, contradicted the principle of shared differentiated responsibilities in the Paris climate agreement.
At the UN in early December registered Global trade will decline in 2023.
UNCTAD was previously Europe’s is The region where the economic situation is most worrying.