working paper no 95 aiece group reports spring 1997 le commerce mondial en 1996 1998 world commodity prices cpb netherlands bureau for economic policy analysis the hague june van stolkweg 14 po box 80510 2508 gm telephone 31 70 33 83 380 telefax 350 isbn 90 563 5087 0 3 preface papers put together in this publication are half yearly of two groups which actively participates presented on behalf form synthesis views many institutes and have their value as such they do not necessarily reflect opinion reporting institute itself is association european conjuncture french d instituts européens de conjoncture économique founded 1957 now 42 members observing representing 20 countries 4 international organisations eu oecd imf ece membership open to independent involved surveying development macroeconomic forecasting interpreted directly being conducting policies