Unctad’s Days Numbered

Shipping at Unctad awaits its fate. Days could be numbered for maritime deliberations at the Geneva-based United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, once the scourge of shipowners and flag administrations.

Remember the UN Liner Code? Remember attempts to introduce one for the bulk trades? Discussions on open registries? Square brackets? All those late night plenaries with last minute climb downs? All those miniatures from hotel fridges being consumed outside closed doors at the Palais des Nations? It’s a bit like trying to explain the Cold War or hot Reaganomics to the kids, eh?

Well, it could all be over. It seems like cutbacks introduced since Unctad XIII in Columbia four years ago have not been enough. And even if John Major, the UK’s Prime Minister, doesn’t get his way after his speech at the 50th anniversary meeting in New York, days could be numbered for many Unctad services.

This is only an excerpt of Unctad’s Days Numbered

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