text: consequence of a large nuc.Lear war is rnore difficult to examine. rn this context,it seems particularly prudent to state that the effects of nucrear war that cannotbe calculated are at least as important as those for which calculations areattetnpted. The consequence for lrorld trade in generar and the supply of essentiarconmdities in particular would have to take into account both decreasingproduction volures and the breakdown of the organization of world conmerce andcomnunications. Most critical would be the worrd food supply: in nany developingcountries, famine is an ever-present threat even undet stable and peacefulconditions, and a large and continuous international grains trade is needed toprevent starvation. This would be even nore pronounced aft.er a large nucrear war.A1l countries in the vrortd would suffer a drastic reduction of foreign trade,entailing dlfficulties and econqnic losses. The annihilation of the najorfinancial and trading centres of the world, would inevitabLy lead to thedestruction of the elaborate system of international finance and trade as it is nowconstituted, thus eLiminating the order.ly transfer of goods and services. 118. A major difference in conparing the effects of another world war with those inthe past is Che inpossibility of heavy relief prograrnmes for the devastatedcountries, as the surviving developed countries r.rould not poss€ss the capabirityfor such a task. This rvould be an aggravating circunstance h'hich could rule out any chance of international econoni.c recovery for a long tine, Furthermore, manyof the non-berl igerents would be developing countries which had been suppriers oiraw materials and agricultural products of less inunediate importance after a targenuclear war. These night expect an almost total cessation of foreign trade andprobably a cornplete breakdown in the miltilatera] systen of palrrnents. The g1oba1disaster would be further aggravated by tbe scarcity of transport equiprnenE.,pharmaceuticals and pestlcides, which would increase the horror and the ptagues(see A/35/392, annex) .
analysis: The text discusses the devastating consequences of a large nuclear war on global economy, trade, and society. It highlights the collapse of international trade, the scarcity of essential commodities, and the breakdown of global financial and communication systems. The text also touches on the humanitarian crisis, famine, and the impossibility of relief programs due to the destruction of major financial and trading centers.