1989.Consequently, theSecretary-General oftheUnitedNations will,at anappropriate time,invitethoseStatesandintergovernmental organizations thathavenotified theiracceptance ofthetermsof reference todecidewhether ornottoputthetermsofreference into forceamongthemselves.A/CN.9/336 English Page16 Tropical timber: TheInternational Tropical TimberAgreement, 1983, entered intoforceprovisionally on 1April1985foraperiodoffive years. Atitssixthsession, inMay1989,theInternational Tropical TimberCouncil decided toextendtheAgreement foraperiodoftwoyears endingon 31 March 1992. Tungsten: Atitstwenty-first session inDecember 1989,theUNCTAD Committee onTungsten requested theSecretary-General ofUNCTADto approach theCommonFundinformally inordertoseekitsviewonthe eligibility oftheCommittee tobedesignated asanInternational Commodity Body inaccordance withthecriteria setoutinschedule Cof theAgreement establishing theCommonFundforCommodities. Thenext session oftheCommittee isscheduled tobeheldinDecember 1990. C.UNCTAD: complementary facility forcommodity-related shortfalls inexportearnings 25.TheIntergovernmental GroupofExperts ontheCompensatory Financing of ExportEarnings Shortfalls concluded itsworkatitsresumed secondsession, 10to18April1989.Atthatsession theGroup,interalia,recognized that compensatory financing couldbecommodity-related addressing someaspects of theinstability problems inthecommodity sector. Recognizing thevalueof theexisting commodity-related schemes, namelytheEEC/ACP STABEXandSYSMIN, STABEX-LDC-ALA andthenewprogramme ofSwitzerland, theGroupunderlined that thoseschemes werelimited intheirproduct andcountry coverage and recommended thatotherdeveloped countries beinvited toconsider the possibility ofintroducing otherschemes. The Group alsorecommended thatthe problem ofcommodity exportearnings shortfalls ofdeveloping countries arising fromexportearnings instability, aswellasactions takenorrequired intheareaofcompensatory financing ofexportearnings shortfalls, bekept undercontinuous reviewinUNCTAD, andthattheUNCTADSecretariat be requested tofollowdevelopments invarious compensatory financing schemes and theirimplications forthedevelopment ofdeveloping countries. Thereportof theGroupwillbeconsidered bytheUNCTADTradeandDevelopment Boardata special session on 8 and 9 March 1990. D.UNCTAD: GlobalSystemofTradePreferences (GSTP) 26.TheGlobalSystemofTradePreferences (GSTP)adopted andopenedfor signature in1988(UNCTAD GSTP/MM/BELGRADE/3) entered intoforceon 19April 1989(UNCTAD Bulletin No.252-May1989). E.UNCTAD: Generalized SystemofPreferences (GSP) 27.TheUNCTADSpecial Committee onPreferences convened foritssixteenth session from 24 Aprilto3May1989.Ithadbeforeitthe"Twelfth General ReportontheImplementation oftheGeneralized SystemofPreferences" (TD/B/C.5/l22 andAdd.l)whichupdated thetradeeffects ofthesystemand highlighted thechanges, improvements inthevarious schemes andprovided statistics on non-GSP covered products whichindicated thatmostdeveloping countries, particularly theleastdeveloped countries, couldbenefit from an extension ofGSPtosuchproducts without significant domestic impactinthe preference-giving countries.• •A/CN.9/336 English Page17 28.TheCommittee alsoconsidered areport(TD/B/C.S.121) whichanalyses the extenttowhichthemultilaterally agreedprinciples relating tothe generalized, non-discriminatory andnon-reciprocal character ofGSPhavebeen complied withintheimprovements oftheautonomous GSPschemes sincetheir inception. Thatreportconcludes thatmostoftheschemes havebeenimproved asregards product coverage, depthoftariffcuts,andtosomeextentthe rulesoforigin. However, itindicates thattherealsohavebeensignificant deviations fromtheagreedprinciples: theprinciple ofgeneralization has provedimpossible toimplement andalmostallGSPschemes continue tocarry elements ofdiscrimination. Differential application ofpreferential treatment amongbeneficiaries through theintroduction ofvarious discriminatory measures, mostnotably graduation measures, hasweakened the
**Analysis**
The text appears to be discussing various international agreements and programs related to trade, commodities, and economic development. The topics covered include the International Tropical Timber Agreement, the Global System of Trade Preferences, and the Generalized System of Preferences. These agreements aim to promote trade, stabilize commodity prices, and support economic development in developing countries.

**Category**
International trade, Economic development