Statement by H.E. Mr. Ali BAHREINI at the Ministerial Meeting for Global System of Trade Preferences among Developing Countries (GSTP) - UNCTAD16

Geneva - 22 October 2025

Statement

 By

  H.E. Mr. Ali BAHREINI

 Ambassador and Permanent Representative of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the United Nations Office and other International Organizations in Geneva

 Before

The Ministerial Meeting for Global System of Trade Preferences among Developing Countries (GSTP) 

UNCTAD16 Conference

Geneva, 22 October 2025

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 بسم الله الرحمن الرحیم

Mr. President,
Madam Secretary-General,
Excellencies,
Distinguished Delegates,

The Islamic Republic of Iran is pleased to participate in this Ministerial Meeting of the Global System of Trade Preferences among Developing Countries (GSTP), held on the occasion of the sixteenth session of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD).

 We express our support for the Ministerial Communiqué adopted today and reaffirm our commitment to the objectives and principles of the GSTP, as enshrined in the Agreement.

 We also believe that the GSTP remains a vital and strategic instrument for promoting South–South cooperation, collective self-reliance, and economic complementarity among developing countries.

 Mr. Chair,

At a time when the global economy faces increasing fragmentation, geopolitical tensions, and the growing application of unilateral coercive measures, the need for solidarity, cooperation and mutual support among developing countries has become more pressing than ever.

Trade among developing countries — South–South trade — is not merely an alternative; it is a necessity for achieving diversification, building resilience, and ensuring that developing economies are active participants, not passive recipients, in the evolving global trading system.

 In this regard, the Islamic Republic of Iran attaches great importance to revitalizing the GSTP, accelerating the entry into force and implementation of the São Paulo Round, and encouraging the widest possible participation of developing countries. The early operationalization of the São Paulo Round will provide a concrete mechanism for expanding trade opportunities, deepening production linkages, and strengthening our collective economic sovereignty.

 Mr. Chair,

We commend UNCTAD and the GSTP participants for their continued technical work to modernize, streamline and expand the Agreement. We support initiatives aimed at: 

• Updating tariff concessions in light of evolving trade structures;
• Addressing non-tariff barriers and enhancing regulatory cooperation;
• Promoting digital trade and e-commerce among developing countries; and
• Building institutional capacities for effective implementation of GSTP commitments.

 From the perspective of the Islamic Republic of Iran, the GSTP also represents an avenue to mitigate the adverse effects of unilateral coercive measures that restrict legitimate trade, investment and technology flows among developing nations. By fostering direct, preferential, and mutually beneficial trade arrangements among the countries of the South, the GSTP can serve as a buffer against external pressures and a catalyst for economic independence.

 Mr. Chair,

In conclusion The Islamic Republic of Iran reaffirms its readiness to work closely with all GSTP partners to deepen economic cooperation, expand intra-developing-country trade, and contribute to a more balanced, equitable and development-oriented multilateral trading system.

 We remain confident that, through our collective will and cooperation, the GSTP will continue to embody the spirit of solidarity that inspired its creation — transforming South–South trade into a powerful driver of inclusive and sustainable growth.

 Thank you

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