Trade : EU, Switzerland, UK continue opposition, amid support for TRIPS waiver (PRIV)
(D. Ravi Kanth, Washington DC)
Amid the groundswell of international support for the TRIPS waiver at the WTO coupled with more countries, including Malaysia, joining as co-sponsors of the waiver, three members - the European Union led by Germany, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom - seem determined to undermine an expeditious decision on the temporary waiver for combating the COVID-19 pandemic, said people familiar with the development.

UNCTAD : New S-G calls for global compact to address concerns of South (PRIV)
(D. Ravi Kanth, Washington DC)
The new Secretary-General of the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), Ms Rebeca Grynspan, intends to bring to the global centre-stage the escalating economic and social problems of the developing and least-developed countries stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic.

United Nations : Global growth to hit 5.3% in 2021, but uncertainty remains (PRIV)
(Kanaga Raja, Geneva)
Global growth is expected to hit 5.3 per cent this year, following a fall of 3.5 per cent in 2020, the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) has said.