International Trade and Business Resource Guide: International Organizations

The IMF is adding visual context to its website, www.imf.org (in the form of videos), to augment the understanding of the data that they generate. The videos are are freely available.

The IMF eLibrary describes itself as a resource for finding "in-depth, independent analysis on the financial crisis, development, macroeconomics, poverty reduction, trade, globalization, and much more."

The IMF publishes a range of time series data on IMF lending, exchange rates, and other economic and financial indicators. Series include:

International Financial Statistics (IFS)
Balance of Payments Statistics (BOP)
Direction of Trade Statistics (DOT)
Government Finance Statistics (GFS)

The World Trade Organization (WTO) was established in 1995 and has a membership of 153 countries (as of 23 July 2008). It is "the only global international organization dealing with the rules of trade between nations. At its heart are the WTO agreements, negotiated and signed by the bulk of the world’s trading nations and ratified in their parliaments." WTO Resources include the following six links.

The national trade policies of all WTO members are reviewed regularly, according to each country's share of world trade. Reports are listed chronologically, or may be searched by country.

Grouped by goods, services, and intellectual property.

The ITC's mandate is to help developing and transition economies "realize their full potential for developing exports and improving import operations." Resources include market development programmes for selected sectors and country specfic trade analysis for selected countries. Some material is freely available, however many reports require payment.

The U.N. Statistics Division compiles and disseminates global statistical information.

The United Nations Commodity Trade Statistics Database, provides commodity statistics and data on International Merchandise Trade Statistics.

The "Trade" section off of the main OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) website (www.oecd.org) provides copious numbers of reports and data. Many reports are freely available, however some do require payment. Note: Suffolk students and faculty also have access to the OECD iLibrary

Trade statistics in both goods and services.

Covers statistics on economics, development, industry, and social issues.

This is the portal site of the European Union. Users will find EU legislation, the websites of each EU institution, EU news, and statistics. Some publications require purchase.

The statistical section of the European Union's webpage includes long term and short term indicators, Statistics in Focus (summaries of statistical surveys), and working papers.

Information about the European currency.

The International Chamber of Commerce, founded in 1919, has the mission of supporting world business by "promoting trade and investment, open markets for goods and services, and the free flow of capital." The ICC has developed codes and policies in areas such as direct marketing and advertising, and intellectual property. The site provides policies as well as current and archived news relating to international business.

SICE, "Sistema de Información al Comercio Exterior" or "Foreign Trade Information System" is "the information technology arm of the Trade Unit of the Organization of American States (OAS)." The goal of SICE is to provide access to documents on trade in the Western Hemisphere. Content includes the full-text and summaries of trade agreements, investment treaties, and dispute settlements in the Western Hemisphere.

Offers tips on navigating OECD iLibrary, and provides several videos presenting facts taken from the content of the iLibrary.