text: UNITED NATIONS Economic and Social Couri&f 1 mrl." "" APR l 1990 UNJ 5A '-.,"-..,1-.;..w-. • ·· Distr. GENERAL _,,_, E/C.10/1990/5 29 January 1990 E ORIGINAL: ENGLISH COMMISSION ON TRANSNATIONAL CORPORATIONS Sixteenth session New York, 2-11 April 1990 Item 4 (a) of the provisional agenda• WORK RELATED TO THE CODE OF CONDUCT ON TRANSNATIONAL CORPORATIONS AND OTHER INTERNATIONAL ARRANGEMENTS AND AGREEMENTS: CODE OF CONDUCT ON TRANSNATIONAL CORPORATIONS Progress made in the work on the code of conduct on transnational corporations Re2ort of the Secretary-General SUMMARY Informal consultations on the code of conduct intensified during the past year. They were preceded by a symposium at which a number of personalities in the field of international economic law suggested some prescriptions for the resolution of the outstanding issues in the code. The outcome of that effort is discussed in the first part of this report. Since negotiations on the code were initiated in 1976, there have been a number of significant developments affecting the economic and political environment for the code negotiations. Those encompass an array of macro-economic changes which emphasize the linkages between trade, investment and financial issues, leading to a more integrated policy approach to related issues. As a major organizational vehicle for this integration, transnational corporations must of necessity be a focal point in current policy considerations. The new policy dynamic stresses the need for an international framework to address the essential economic functions performed by these corporations. E/C .10/1990/1. 90-02267 1447h (E) E/C.10/1990/5 English Page 2 . .. At the same time, changing f~r~ign direct investment patterns have altered the raditional geo-political pattern of home and host country roles, laying the basis or similar alterations in their outlook of specific transnational corporation issues still being debated in the code negotiations. 
analysis: The text appears to be discussing the development of an international framework for transnational corporations, focusing on their economic functions and the need for a code of conduct. The language used suggests a focus on macro-economic changes, international policy approaches, and the integration of trade, investment, and financial issues. This implies that the category should be related to economic development and international trade.