ABSTRACT
One of the main concerns of the United Nations in the economic field has been to promote genuine equality in trade and economic relations by removing discriminatory barriers and, where appropriate, by granting preferential treatment to developing countries. This has made the issue of equality and discrimination a central question of international economic law. This chapter looks at some of the issues of equality and discrimination which have arisen in the work of the regional economic commissions of the United Nations. The relationship of the concept of reciprocity to that of equality is also still very current. The view was advanced that the harmonious development of East-West trade must be inspired by the concept of improving access to markets under conditions of effective reciprocity. The issues of equality and discrimination which have arisen in the work of the regional economic commissions of the United Nations are a mirror of the main issues in international economic relations generally.
