Developing countries and the WTO : policy approaches / edited by Gary P. Sampson and W. Bradnee Chambers.

Format:

Book

Contributor:

Sampson, Gary P.

Chambers, W. Bradnee.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

World Trade Organization--Developing countries.

World Trade Organization.

Developing countries--Commercial policy.

Developing countries.

Physical Description:

xviii, 327 p. : ill.

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

Tokyo ; New York : United Nations University Press, c2008.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

It is widely accepted that a wellfunctioning global trading system is a prerequisite for trade promotion and the economic growth of developing countries. It is equally recognized that the current trading system has not worked to the advantage of many Third World nations. Negotiations launched at the World Trade Organization to rectify the situation --the Doha Development Agenda --have failed to resolve the system's inherent problems. Compared to just ten years ago, developing countries are much better informed with respect to trade negotiations. Also, they now comprise two-thirds of the membership of the WTO. Because the organization is based on consensus, this majority gives them a new power and authority in future negotiations. For this reason, it is critical that these nations have clear proposals for reform that are both ambitious and realistic. Only then can they constructively promote their interests in the coming years. This book addresses the critical trade policychoices now facing developing countries. Experienced negotiators, scholars, and trade officials from different backgrounds offer policy prescriptions to secure a world trading system that will meet these nations' needs.

Contents:

Intro

Contents

Figures

Tables

Contributors

Acknowledgements

Abbreviations

1 Introduction and overview

Part I Market access

2 Why developing countries need agricultural policy reform to succeed under Doha

The model used to assess effects of trade-related policy reform

The model's subsidies and import protection database

The relative importance of policies in different sectors

The relative importance of policies within the agricultural sector

What might Doha partial reforms deliver?

Summary and conclusions

Notes

3 The cotton initiative

The logic behind the initiative

An example of manoeuvring: Make it a development issue

The July Package trade- off: A case of constructive ambiguity

Litigation or negotiations

Financial compensation is outside the scope of the WTO and retaliation is not an option

Hong Kong Ministerial

Conclusion

4 The WTO non-agricultural market access negotiations: Opportunities and challenges for developing countries

Doha Declaration

July 2004 Package

What is on the table? - The main proposals

Scenarios

Implications for trade, welfare, output, employment, revenues and preferences

Adjustment issues - a need for caution

Conclusions and recommendations

5 Trade in services and policy priorities for developing countries

Early history

More recent history

Doha Development Agenda

Policy priorities

Policy conclusions

Part II Legal flexibility

6 Special and differential treatment: The need for a different approach

The conceptual premises for SDT

SDT provisions

Assessment

Recommendations

7 Special and differential treatment for developing countries in the World Trade Organization

SDT provisions: Background

Justification for enhanced SDT.

Future approaches to SDT in the WTO

Part III Facing challenges

8 Making TRIPS work for developing countries

Intellectual property and the varied interests of developing countries

Competitive liberalization and the erosion of multilateralism

Implications for TRIPS negotiations

Conclusions and a proposal for more development- friendly IP rulemaking

9 The development objectives of the WTO: State-centred versus human rights approaches

Ambivalence of the WTO objectives: Power politics in disguise

From ''member-driven governance'' to ''democratic self-governance'' in international economic law?

The ''human rights approach'' to international trade advocated by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and the International Labour Organization

Defining WTO development objectives, principles and rules in conformity with ''principles of justice'' and human rights obligations of WTO Members

10 A human rights approach to ''sustainable development'' within the World Trade Organization

The right to ''sustainable development''

The multilateral trading system and the right to sustainable development

Concluding remarks

11 Asymmetric integration: The role of regionalism

The growth of regionalism

Dealing regionally with asymmetries: Is there a pattern?

Dealing regionally with asymmetries: WTO-plus?

How effective is regional cooperation in addressing asymmetries?

How effective are asymmetric liberalization commitments?

Re- asserting the primacy of multilateral liberalization

Note

Part IV Process

12 Developing countries and the reform of the WTO Dispute Settlement System: Expectations and realities

How the system has fared

The reform of the DSU

Participation of developing countries in the dispute settlement system

Where do we go from here?

Conclusion.

Notes

13 WTO negotiations on trade facilitation - Lessons for the future? New perspectives for and from the developing world

Slow start . . . but catching up fast

The story so far

From sceptics to believers: The key role of the developing world

What's so special about Trade Facilitation?

Broader implications?

Final thoughts

Index.

Notes:

Bibliographic Level Mode of Issuance: Monograph

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

92-808-7122-6

OCLC:

367582318