Transactional corporations (TNCs)
Almost 70 per cent of world trade is between transnational corporations (TNCs). The largest 500 TNCs account account for about 80 per cent of foreign investment, 70 per cent of world trade and 30 per cent of world output. TNCs are particularly active in the processing and marketing of foodstuffs; it is common for a small number to account for over 80 per cent of the trade in an agricultural product. ... more

General Agreement in Tarrifs and Trade (GATT)
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The World Trade Organisation (WTO)
The rules of international trade are made at the Geneva-based WTO. This began in 1995 as the successor to the GATT and was an outcome of the Uruguay round of trade negotiations. The WTO is basically an expanded GATT with greater powers. In March 2002 the WTO had 144 member countries. ... more

The UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD)
Set up in 1964, UNCTAD�s initial brief was to help developing countries to reverse their declining terms of trade and to link trade with development. In its early years, UNCTAD launched a number of ambitious programmes, the most significant being the Integrated Programme for Commodities (IPC) in 1976. This envisaged the negotiation of 18 specific commodity agreements that would give producers a fair return and consumers a guaranteed price. Western countries had no enthusiasm for the IPC and commodity agreements have since dwindled rather than increased. ... more

Military spending
Resource-related conflicts of the late 1990s killed more than 5 million people and displaced 17- 21 million. ... more

Clothing sweatshops
Sweatshops are used in developed and developing countries by some of the largest clothing companies, harming millions of workers. Campaigning organisations, trade unions and ethical business are shining a light on some of the worst excesses. ... more

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