UNCTAD Board calls for reversal of protectionism.

• Position: United Nations Conference on Trade and Development

A strong reaffirmation of the international community's commitment to halt and reverse protectionism-as set out in the Final Act of the seventh United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD)-was made by the Conference's Trade and Development Board at its thirty-fifth session (Geneva, 6-17 March).

In a unanimous decision, the 131member body reiterated the need to take "expeditious and concrete structural adjustment actions" to widen export markets for developing country products and asked that the special problems of the least developed countries be taken into account. It also recognized the need to avoid abuse of such non-tariff measures as anti-dumping and countervailing actions, and to discipline resort to other non-tariff measures which adversely affect products of export interest to developing countries.

Adopting seven texts in all, the Board also decided to observe UNCTAD's 25th anniversary when it meets again in October.

In other action, the Board...