US urges nations to back 'trade over aid' plan as UN warns against privatizing assistance

The Trump administration is promoting a market-driven 'trade over aid' approach at the United Nations, shifting U.S. foreign policy toward commerce-based development rather than traditional assistance programs. This initiative marks a significant departure from conventional aid strategies, emphasizing economic partnerships and bilateral trade relationships as mechanisms for supporting developing nations. However, UN officials have expressed concerns about reducing humanitarian assistance through privatization, highlighting tensions between profit-driven models and global welfare objectives.