UN GENEVA PRESS BRIEFING

11 April 2025

Alessandra Vellucci, Director of the United Nations Information Service in Geneva, chaired a hybrid briefing, which was attended by the representatives and spokespersons of the International Trade Centre, the United Nations Children’s Fund, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, UN Women, the World Food Programme, the World Health Organization, and the United Nations Refugee Agency.

Potential Impact of United States Tariffs on Developing Countries

Pamela Coke-Hamilton, Executive Director, International Trade Centre (ITC), said the organisation had been following the impact of the United States tariffs on developing countries and their small businesses. On Wednesday, the United States announced a 90-day pause on so-called “reciprocal” tariffs on imports from most countries, bringing down rates to 10 per cent, while raising tariffs on imports from China to 145 per cent. China, meanwhile, had raised tariffs on imported United States goods to 84 per cent. Still in place were the Previous Most Favoured Nation rates and trade remedies, plus the new United States tariffs on steel, aluminium, automobiles, and Venezuelan oil.

ITC’s initial estimates, developed with the French economics research institute Centre d'Etudes Prospectives et d'Informations Internationales (CEPII), calculated before the announcement of the 90-day pause and the additional tariff hikes on China, indicated that by 2040, the effect of the so-called “reciprocal” tariffs and initial countermeasures could reduce global GDP by 0.7 per cent. Countries like Mexico, China and Thailand—but also countries in Southern Africa—were among the most affected, alongside the United States itself.

Global trade could shrink by three per cent, with significant long-term shifts in trade patterns and economic integration. For example, exports from Mexico—which had been highly impacted—were shifting from markets such as the United States, China, Europe and even other Latin American countries, with modest gains instead in Canada and Brazil, and to a lesser extent, India. Similarly, Vietnamese exports were redirecting away from the United States, Mexico and China, while increasing substantially towards Middle East and North Africa (MENA) markets, the European Union, Republic of Korea and others. Thus, not all countries were affected by such changes equally.

Least developed countries, including Lesotho, Cambodia, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Madagascar and Myanmar, were most exposed to instabilities in the global trading system and least equipped to pivot as needed. The same went for small businesses in those countries, which did not have the capacity to absorb additional costs or to navigate such changes that their bigger counterparts did.

Some of these least developed countries relied heavily on the United States market for their exports, using preferences such as the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), which had allowed imports from Sub-Saharan African countries to enter the United States market duty-free since 2000.

Lesotho has been making use of AGOA, sending 60 per cent of its apparel exports to the United States market, exporting on average more than 230 million dollars in apparel a year over the past five years. Before the pause in “reciprocal” tariffs, Lesotho faced the highest rate of 50 per cent. A 50 per cent tariff would imply export potential losses of 210 million dollars in the United States market by 2029.

Bangladesh, the world’s second largest apparel exporter, would face a reciprocal tariff of 37 per cent, should it come into effect, which could lead to a loss of 3.3 billion dollars in annual exports to the United States by 2029.

It was easy to get caught up in daily or even hourly updates, but the situation presented long-term opportunities. A key part of the solution for developing countries to navigate any kind of global shocks was to prioritise diversification, value addition and regional integration. If ever there was a time to make this pivot, this was it. This “strategic reglobalisation” was characterised by mutually beneficial trade, rather than traditional development aid.

Diversification meant exploring new markets to sell to, to reduce reliance on one or two big trading partners. To absorb some of the losses on the United States market, for example, Bangladesh could explore European markets, which still held growth potential for its apparel. Lesotho could tap into alternative markets such as Belgium or Eswatini, where it held a combined unrealised export potential of 22 million dollars. While this would not compensate for the estimated losses, it was one way to blunt the full impact.

To achieve value addition, developing countries needed to move from selling commodities to focusing on in-country processing of goods before export. Value-added goods helped developing countries retain more value, so they were less affected by sudden drops in prices of coffee, cocoa or copper on global markets, for example. This was another way to improve overall resilience.

For regional integration, developing countries needed to look at their neighbours and choose to invest in trading relationships at the regional level. The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) was one example, with the potential to transform the way Africa traded within and with the rest of the world. If tariffs were fully eliminated, Côte d’Ivoire, for example, could increase intra-African exports by 25 per cent, partially compensating for the anticipated 563-million-dollar losses on the United States market.

There were opportunities for developing countries not just to navigate times of uncertainty, but to proactively prepare for the long haul.

In response to questions, Ms. Coke-Hamilton said there was no clarity yet regarding whether tariffs on Sub-Saharan African countries would be waived under the AGOA, and whether the AGOA would be renewed in September this year. Textiles and apparel manufacturers who utilised the AGOA Sub-Saharan Africa Programme had said that if they did not have a signal of renewal, they would not invest.

The AfCFTA could help address infrastructure issues in Africa to promote trade within and outside of Africa. The United States tariffs could fundamentally change how Africa traded, and this would have an impact on Africa as a whole.

Decisions to move a firm were multi-faceted. Businesses had to look at the cost of labour and inputs, as well as regulations and other factors. ITC was assessing the industrial capacity of developing countries and how much of that could be retrofitted or redirected to other markets. It was using its Export Potential Map to find opportunities that could be easily implemented. Viet Nam had a greater ability to switch to different markets than Lesotho, for example, which had two main exports, textiles and diamonds. ITC was supporting Lesotho to develop other sectors.

There were many agreements that were beneficial to least developed countries that had not been used in full due to supply-side constraints. ITC would work to help these countries address these. It was committed to determining the best method of helping least developed countries to navigate these treacherous waters.

Developing countries needed employment. In Sierra Leone, for example, there was 70 per cent unemployment. Everyone was excited about the potential of artificial intelligence on production, but getting people employed was the priority in these countries.

ITC had not been directly impacted by aid cuts but many of the countries it worked with had been impacted by the loss of programmes, which affected what was being asked of ITC.

This was not the first time there had been tremors in the world economic system, though this was a major one. It would not lead to the end of the system, but there would be readjustments in supply chains and reassessments of global alliances. The indeterminate extension of tariff pauses did not lend itself to stability. This would affect trade decisions over time.

China had increased its tariff on United States goods to 125 per cent just this morning. China and the United States constituted around three per cent of world trade; the remaining 96-97 per cent of trade would continue. However, there were many intermediate products that went through China and the United States, and it was unclear how these would be affected by the reciprocal tariffs.

Julia Spies, Chief of Trade and Market Intelligence, International Trade Centre (ITC), responding to questions, said supply chain adjustments took time, and in an environment with so much uncertainty, it was hard for firms to make such decisions. Measures such as preferential trade agreements offered growth opportunities that had not been used yet. There was demand for products in developing markets, and trade agencies could help developing countries tap into these opportunities.[1]

Situation of Children in Easter Democratic Republic of the Congo

James Elder, for UNICEF, speaking from Goma, highlighted the alarming escalation of violence against children in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), where reports indicate that a child was raped every half hour. Between January and February 2025, children represented 35-45 percent of the nearly 10,000 reported cases of sexual violence. Mr. Elder emphasized that this violence was not isolated but part of a systemic crisis, with survivors as young as toddlers. Sexual violence was being used as a weapon of war, destroying families and communities. Mr. Elder stressed the urgency of increased prevention efforts, survivor-centered services, and accessible reporting mechanisms. However, ongoing global funding cuts had severely impacted vital services, including medical care for survivors. Without additional funding, 250,000 children will miss crucial services, and future humanitarian assistance will be jeopardized. He called for immediate collective action to address these violations and support affected children.

Responding to questions, Ms. Elder emphasised that the crises were accumulating since last January. Consequently, the cost of supplies was raising and unfortunately the funding situation did not help in reducing the gap between the acute needs and the actual supplies provided. About the situation in Goma and in Bukavu, he stressed that it was very difficult for humanitarian workers and partners to operate, as the degree of uncertainty was great in the region with thousands of people displaced that were already on the margins.

Two Year from the Start of the Conflict in Sudan

Jens Laerke, for the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), stated that as the fighting in Sudan entered a third year with no viable peace in sight, the Sudanese were trapped in a humanitarian crisis of industrial proportions. Two out of three people needed aid – which was 30 million people. Civilians and aid workers were killed with impunity. Sexual violence was rampant. The health system was in tatters. Famine had taken hold in several places. And the entire region was struggling with the influx of millions of refugees. With more than 12 million of people displaced, 25 million who were acutely hungry, and 40 per cent of the population who needed urgent health assistance, Sudan was in dire need of a massive ramp-up of international support. Funding cuts would have a direct impact on the suffering of people. OCHA called on donors to get behind the organization's response which provided a protective shield against utter devastation for millions of people.

Ravina Shamdasani, for the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), stated that UN Hugh Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk condemned the warring parties in Sudan for overseeing a “wholesale assault on human rights” amid global inaction, as the brutal two-year conflict continued to devastate lives. The conflict was driven not only by power struggles but by economic interests tied to gold, arabic gum, and livestock, which were fueling a war economy sustained through international trade. Violations of the arms embargo on Darfur and the proliferation of weapons were escalating the violence. Sexual violence remained widespread, with women and girls subjected to rape and exploitation. OHCHR reiterated its call to expand the arms embargo to all of Sudan and urged immediate international action.

The full press release is available here.

Marking the two years of conflict in Sudan, Li Fung, OHCHR Representative in Sudan, speaking from Nairobi, raised alarm over escalating hostilities and the grave protection risks facing civilians, particularly in and around El Fasher, where the RSF had intensified its siege and attacks, including on Abu Shouk camp, killing at least 10. OHCHR warned of expanding violence in Kordofan, Blue Nile, and Northern State, alongside persistent violations of international law, including ethnically motivated killings, attacks on civilian infrastructure, and sexual violence. In testimonies from refugees in Chad, victims described brutal atrocities, including rape, torture, and extrajudicial killings. OHCHR urged an end to the conflict and accountability for all human rights violations.

Sofia Calltorp, for UN Women, said that two years ago, the conflict in Sudan ignited a crisis now labeled as the worst humanitarian emergency in the world for women and girls. Today, more than six million displaced Sudanese women and girls faced daily threats to their safety and basic survival. In two years, the number of people at risk of gender-based violence, including sexual violence, had tripled to over 12 million. As half of the country’s population already faced hunger, women were especially vulnerable, often being the last to eat. Maternal deaths had risen alarmingly. Over the past two years, UN Women had partnered with more than 60 women-led organizations to reach over 15,000 women in some of Sudan’s most affected areas. Yet the needs were vast, and more funding was crucial. UN Women renewed the call for the conflict to end, as well as for the immediate cessation of all forms of gender-based violence, including sexual violence.

Full statement available here.

Leni Kinzli, World Food Programme (WFP) Communications Officer for Sudan, speaking from Nairobi, stated that today 25 million people, or one in two Sudanese, could not put food on their plates. Since the conflict started, the situation had been deteriorating, with famine being declared in 10 areas. WFP had provided food and nutrition aid to nearly 13 million people across Sudan. Each month, over three million people received food and nutrition assistance from WFP. It would be expanded to seven million people per month by mid-year. WFP urgently needed an amount of $650 million to reach the objective of assisting seven million people. Without swift action, WFP warned that millions of vulnerable people could be cut off from life-saving aid, placing fragile humanitarian gains at serious risk.

Press release can be found here.

Dr. Shible Sahbani, World Health Organization (WHO) Representative in Sudan, speaking from Cairo, said that the two-year war in Sudan had plunged the country into a humanitarian crisis of epic proportions marked by violence, displacement, hunger but also disease and death. A staggering number of 20.3 million people – over 40 per cent of the population – required urgent health assistance. Malnutrition was widespread with 3.7 million people in need of nutrition interventions. In Darfur, over 2.5 million displaced women and girls had no access to basic reproductive health services. In the last two years, WHO's work had enabled over one million people to be treated in health infrastructures; 75,000 severely acute malnourished children had received treatment; 11.5 million children had been vaccinated for polio and measles; and 12.8 million people had been vaccinated for cholera. The WHO 's work was essential but had been severely affected by funding cuts. It was time for a strong call on the partners to continue their support to WHO and to the people of Sudan.

Olga Sarrado Mur, for the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), warned that Sudan, now the site of the world’s worst displacement crisis, continued to suffer amid the lowest levels of humanitarian funding in decades. Two years into the brutal conflict, nearly 13 million people had been uprooted, including almost 4 million who had fled to neighbouring countries - half of them children. Displacement had surged while aid access remained fragile and perilous, with under 10 percent of required funds received for the regional response. Inside Sudan, reduced resources were cutting access to clean water and shelter, raising the risk of disease and further suffering. In neighbouring countries such as South Sudan, Chad, and Uganda, overcrowded camps, overstretched schools, and closed safe spaces were leaving refugees—especially women and children—vulnerable to exploitation, early marriage, and onward dangerous migration. With conflict lines shifting and prospects for peace dimming, UNHCR urged immediate support to sustain humanitarian operations and avert further regional destabilization.

Full statement available here.

Responding to questions, Olga Sarrado for UNHCR said that the majority of Sudanese refugees were living in neighbouring countries, many of them near to the border, in order to be able to go back home as soon as possible. A 28 per cent of those refugees had a secondary or university level of education and were hoping for good opportunities in the future after two years of conflict. Ms. Sarrado added that the funding cuts were worsening the humanitarian situation on the ground. It was possible that refugees would envisage departing towards developed countries for a better future.

Human Rights and Health Situation in Gaza

Ravina Shamdasani, for the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), stated that the increasing issuance by Israeli Forces of “evacuation orders” had resulted in the forcible transfer of Palestinian in Gaza. While Israel, as an occupying power, could lawfully order the temporary evacuations of civilians in certain areas under strict conditions, the nature and scope of the evacuation orders raised serious concerns that Israel intended permanently to remove the civilian population from these areas, permanently displacing the civilian population within occupied territory, which was a grave breach of the Fourth Geneva Convention and a crime against humanity. Since 18 March, Israel had issued 21 “evacuation orders”. Between 18 March and 9 April 2025, there were some 224 incidents of Israeli strikes on residential buildings and tents for internally displaced people. In some 36 strikes about which the UN Human Rights Office had been able to corroborate information, the fatalities recorded so far were only women and children. There was also an alarming trend of targeting and killing Palestinian journalists. Intentionally directing attacks against civilians not taking a direct part in hostilities constituted a war crime. All parties should be entirely focused on achieving a ceasefire, rather than seeking to justify the prolongation of senseless violence.

Full statement can be found here.

Dr. Rik Peeperkorn, for the World Health Organization (WHO), speaking from Jerusalem, informed that stocks of medical supplies and equipment were running critically low and making it a challenging to keep these hospital supplies amid a rising violence. All types of medical supplies (medication, assistive devices, surgical tools, consumables, oxygen stations, etc.) were critically low in stock. WHO was waiting for 158 metric tons of supplies worth 2.3 million dollars to be released and sent to Gaza. Another 36 tons of supplies arrived in Dubai, waiting for the opening of the humanitarian corridors. Since 18 March, only 28 staff had been able to enter Gaza; the number of international emergency medical teams deployed had decreased from 97 to 68. In addition, medical evacuations were extremely slow while 10,000 to 12,000 patients in Gaza were in urgent need of evacuation for urgent care.

Answering questions, Dr. Rik Peeperkorn (WHO), explained that since the end of the ceasefire, there was a clear shortage of medical supplies in Gaza due to blockades at the entry of the territory. Medical supplies were now rationed. WHO focused on saving lives and reduce morbidity. The organization called for the blockade to be lifted. Adding to this acute situation, hospitals and medical facilities in Gaza were barely functional, which resulted on very few people enabled to receive surgical and medical treatments despite their very severe condition. He added that a ceasefire was needed for enabling new rounds of Polio vaccine campaign, so as to reach the rate of 95 percent of vaccinated population which was needed for fully covering the Gazan people.

Continued Attacks and Rescue Efforts in Myanmar

Ravina Shamdasani, for OHCHR, noted that today, Friday, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk had called for immediate and unrestricted humanitarian access to all affected areas following the deadly earthquake in central Myanmar. While both the Myanmar military and the National Unity Government announced a pause in hostilities, High-Commissioner Türk urged a halt to all military operations, emphasizing the importance of focusing on humanitarian assistance. Reports from the UN Human Rights Office indicated that, despite the ceasefire, the Myanmar military continued operations, including airstrikes and conscription of civilians aiding rescue efforts. The military's longstanding restrictions on humanitarian access had left many areas, including Sagaing, Bago, and Shan State, without relief efforts. Mr. Türk highlighted the catastrophic situation in these regions, exacerbated by an information blackout and a lack of essential supplies such as clean water, food, and medicines. He stressed that international assistance had to reach affected communities through coordinated efforts, and called for the release of political prisoners, as well as a shift towards an inclusive political solution that would uphold human rights and democracy.

Press release is available here.

Needs of Refugees Returning to Syria

Celine Schmitt, United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) Spokesperson in Syria, speaking from Damascus, said that some 400,000 Syrians had returned from neighbouring countries since the fall of the Assad regime on 8 December 2024, according to estimates by the Agency. During the same period, more than one million internally displaced people within Syria had also moved, bringing the total number of Syrians who had gone home to over 1.4 million. Without adequate funding, however, the 1.5 million returns projected for this year might not happen, and those who would return, would have no other choice but to leave again. The severe funding cuts that UNHCR was facing were putting millions of lives at risk in Syria, where about 90 per cent of the population required some form of humanitarian assistance. Without additional funding, the Agency would only be able to help a fraction of those who intended to go back, meaning fewer returning home. Despite these difficult and unprecedented times, UNHCR was committed to staying and delivering in Syria and was dedicated to work closely with UN agencies including WFP, IOM, UNDP and UNICEF.

Answering questions, Celine Schmitt stressed that after 8 December 2024 around 80,000 people left Syria. After the events that took place in Syrian coastal areas last March, an estimated number of 30,000 people left the country to reach Lebanon.

Full statement can be found here.

Announcements

Alessandra Vellucci, for the United Nations Information Service, informed on behalf of the World Trade Organization (WTO) that the upcoming embargoed WTO hybrid press conference on the “Global Trade Outlook and Statistics” would take place on 16 April at 2 pm Geneva time in Room D of the WTO building. The embargo would lift at 3 pm on the same day. The press conference would feature Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and Chief Economist Ralph Ossa. An embargoed copy of the report and news item would be available on the WTO online media newsroom at noon of the same day. Registration to attend the press conference in person or virtually could be requested to mediateam@wto.org.

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DRC

UNICEF James Elder (From Goma)

• Historic levels of child rape in eastern DRC, as violence rages amid a growing funding crisis

SUDAN

OCHA Jens Laerke (Press Room)

· Sudan 2-year mark

OHCHR Ravina Shamdasani (Press Room)

· Catastrophic cost of inaction as conflict approaches third year

UN WOMEN Sofia Calltorp (Zoom)

· Situation of women and girls in Sudan

WFP Leni Kinzli, WFP Communications Officer for Sudan (From Nairobi)

· Two years of war in Sudan

WHO Margaret Harris (Press Room) with Dr Shible Sahbani, WHO Representative in Sudan(From Cairo)

· Update on health issues and needs in Sudan

UNHCR Olga Sarrado (Press Room)

· Two years of war in Sudan - a devastating combination of record displacement and dwindling aid

OTHER TOPICS

WHO Margaret Harris (Press Room) with Dr Rik Peeperkorn (From Jerusalem)

· Update on the health situation in Gaza

OHCHR Ravina Shamdasani (Press Room)

· Gaza: Increasing Israeli “evacuation orders” lead to forcible transfer of Palestinians

· Myanmar: Continued attacks amid rescue efforts

UNHCR Celine Schmitt, UNHCR Spokesperson in Syria (From Damascus)

· UNHCR: Needs intensify as 400,000 Syrians return