The origins of ITECD may be traced to the early ECAFE days, when the Trade Promotion Section was created in 1948. Later, the International Trade Branch was established in 1957, and a full fledged International Trade Division, was set up in 1963. The ITECD is one of the substantive divisions of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, or ESCAP. It is also the lead division in the thematic programme adopted by ESCAP for Regional Economic Cooperation. ITECD's work programme, as with other divisions of ESCAP, is determined through various legislative and parliamentary bodies.

The activities of these units/division have been instrumental in stimulating cooperation and providing technical assistance in trade policy formulation, trade facilitation, trade promotion, trade liberalization, customs administration, trade in commodities, electronic commerce and many other areas. In terms of institution building, the more notable achievements include the establishment of the First Agreement on Trade Negotiations among Developing Member Countries of ESCAP Bangkok Agreement) (1975), the Asian Clearing Union (ACU) (1974), and the Asian Reinsurance Corporation (ARC) (1979). It is also understood that the Division's work at that time had facilitated the establishment of the Asian Development Bank.

When the Commission adopted a thematic approach to its programming and established a corresponding subsidiary structure in the early 1990s, ITECD came into existence. The reorganization took formal effect on 1 January 1994, with the launching of the programme budget for 1994-1995, followed by a change in the secretariat's internal structure. ITECD is a core division under the ESCAP Subprogramme 1: Regional Economic Cooperation, with the additional responsibilities for coordinating the work of the subprogramme. The subprogramme receives policy guidance from the Committee for Regional Economic Cooperation, which was established by Commission Resolution 48/2 on Restructuring the Conference Structure of the Commission, and its Steering Group. ITECD is composed of two sections: the Trade Policy Section, and the Trade Promotion Section.

The framework for the ongoing activities of ITECD is largely articulated in the following legislative instruments:

Resolution 50/1: Delhi Declaration on Strengthening Regional Economic Cooperation in Asia and the Pacific Towards the Twenty-first Century;

Resolution 52/10: Revised Action Programme for Regional Economic Cooperation in Trade and Investment; and

Resolution 48/1: Beijing Declaration on Enhancing Regional Economic Cooperation.

ITECD is headed by a Director. There are two sections, namely the Trade Policy Section and the Trade Promotion Section. How to Contact the ITECD gives names and contact addresses. The core ITECD officers are assisted by a regional advisory programme and their specialist services may be requested by ESCAP members. Further details are found in About Regional Advisory Services.