Geneva: The world comes together at the United Nations, taking bold actions to protect consumers and promote fair competition in an increasingly digital and globalised economy.
According to Emirates News Agency, the 9th United Nations Conference on Competition and Consumer Protection concluded on 11 July with a clarion call to safeguard fair, open, and competitive markets as digital transformation reshapes consumption, supply chains, and the global economy. The conference, hosted every five years by UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD), is the world's highest-level multilateral meeting on competition and consumer protection. Over the past week, more than 500 participants, including government ministers, diplomats, and civil society leaders from over 100 countries, convened in Geneva to navigate pressing challenges and chart a new course for the future.
Discussions ranged from unsafe products and cross-border scams to artificial intelligence (AI) for consumer markets and improving competition in digital markets. The rapid rise of AI was also in focus, with a special session highlighting the need for global cooperation to govern and harness the technology for consumers' benefit. Used effectively, AI can enhance consumer protection systems by making them more agile and responsive. The conference showcased success stories where consumer protection agencies leverage AI tools to identify harmful business practices, process complaints, and streamline enforcement actions.
Deputy Secretary-General Pedro Manuel Moreno of UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD) described both documents as 'living tools, designed to evolve and serve people', urging for renewed efforts worldwide. Moreno called on governments, experts, and partners to renew their commitment, emphasizing that markets should be not only efficient but also fair and inclusive. He stressed that unsafe products could pose threats to consumers globally, particularly in interconnected markets and fast-moving supply chains. Alarmingly, 44% of UN member states still lack legal frameworks on product safety.
In response, delegates endorsed a draft resolution proposing the first-ever United Nations Principles for Consumer Product Safety, driven by UN Trade and Development's long-standing work and consensus-building under its Intergovernmental Group of Experts on Consumer Protection Law and Policy. This resolution will move on to the UN General Assembly for formal adoption, potentially setting global standards for safer products across borders.