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The WTO and the Multilateral Trading System - Past, Present and Future

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USD 16.00 Publisher: TWN & Zed Books
ISBN: 983272905X
Year: 2003
No. of pages: 249
Size of book: 14.5cm x 21.5cm
Author: Bhagirath Lal Das
About the Book

This book charts the evolution of the multilateral trading system over the last half-century and explores the future outlook for the intergovernmental body that constitutes its institutional base and which is responsible for governing the conduct of global commerce, the World Trade Organisation (WTO).

The author, a leading authority on international trade, identifies the distinct trends that have characterised the historical progression of the system, from the formulation of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) in 1947 through the WTOs inception in 1995 to the present day. He examines how the GATT/WTO framework has traditionally been used by the major industrial nations as a vehicle to pursue their narrow economic and political interests, at the expense of Third World countries development prospects. This North-South imbalance continues to pervade the multilateral trade regime today, in the form of inherent inequities in the WTO agreements and their implementation, and attempts to insert potentially damaging new issues into the WTO agenda. Further, this book traces the intimate links between these substantive deficiencies and the WTOs murky decision-making processes, which are dominated by its developed-country members to the detriment of the developing countries.

Looking to the future, the author asserts that such one-sidedness cannot and must not persist if the WTO is to foster a healthy stability in international economic relations. Towards this end, he advances concrete suggestions for radical reform in the basic structure, rules and practices of the trade body, and for complementary actions on the part of other institutional, governmental and non-governmental actors. The analysis and proposals laid out in this book are throughout grounded in a practical perspective aimed at yielding the cooperation and mutual gain among nations that are required to harvest the full benefits of international trade. 


Contents

Abbreviations

Preface

CHAPTER I

THE LONG STRIDE: FROM HAVANA TO DOHA

Foundation
Background

Important Milestones
Rounds of Negotiations
Interim Steps
WTO Ministerial Conferences

Important Informal Processes
Introduction
Consultative Group 18
Morges Group on Agriculture
7 Plus 7 Consultations

Distinct Trends
Cast in Developed Countries Mould
A Vehicle for Developed Countries Interests
Monument of Hypocrisy
Primacy of Unilateral Action
Politicisation of GATT/WTO

Changing Colours on the Horizon

CHAPTER II

MAIN FEATURES OF GATT/WTO

Introduction

Provisions Relating to Goods Trade
Basic Features
Restrictions on Imports
Unfair Trade
Procedural Matters
Agreements in Specific Sectors

International Transactions in Services
Protection of IPRs
Dispute Settlement Process
Mismatch Between Objectives and Instruments

CHAPTER 111

IMPLEMENTATION AND IMPLICATIONS

Types of Action
General
Laws, Procedures, Institutions
Elimination of Measures
Notification

Problems and Implications
Handicaps in Developing Countries
Adverse Effects in Developing Countries
Unsatisfactory Implementation by Developed Countries
Subsidies and Anti-dumping
Workings of Some Other Important Agreements

Workings of Enforcement Machinery
Introduction
Substantive Additions to Rights and Obligations
Assumption of Inappropriate Role
An Abnormal Conclusion
Writing of Appellate Body Report
Role of Secretariat

Implementation Issues in the WTO

Background
Importance

CHAPTER IV

NEW ISSUES IN THE WTO

Emergence of New Issues

Environment
Reconciliation Between MEAs and WTO
Process and Production Method (PPM)
Eco-labelling
Precautionary Principle
Environmental Measures and Market Access
Access to Technology
Export of Domestically Prohibited Goods
Liberalisation of Trade in Environmental Goods
Process of Negotiation

Investment
Background
Implications
Study Process in the WTO
Doha Ministerial Declaration
Preferred Options

Competition Policy
Desirable Objectives
Background in the WTO
Implications
Elements for Clarification

Government Procurement
Background
Implications
Preferred Course

Trade Facilitation
Electronic Commerce
Background
Implications
Preferred Course

Social Clause, Labour Standards
Basic Unfairness in Initiating New Issues

CHAPTER V

WTO PROCESSES

Introduction
From Proposals to Conclusions
From Proposals to Agreements

Strength, Strategies and Methods of Developed Countries
Strength and Strategy
Methods and Motivation

Functioning of Developing Countries
Complex Task and Adverse Environment
Compulsions to be in the GATT/WTO
Actual Experiences of the Developing Countries
Strategy and Approach of Developing Countries

Conduct of Meetings and Conferences
Formal and Informal Meetings
Singapore Ministerial Conference (December 1996)
Seattle Ministerial Conference (November-December 1996)
Doha Ministerial Conference (November 2001)
Clean-text Strategy
Role of Secretariat

CHAPTER VI

TOWARDS THE FUTURE

Need for a Multilateral Trading System
Relevance of a System
Relevance of the GATT/WTO System
Preconditions for Reform

Role at Multilateral Level
Principal Role
Basic Structure
Improvement in Rules
Improvement in Implementation
Decision-Making Process

Developed Countries Role
Link with Developing Countries Development
Initial Burden
Institutional Mechanism to Fight Protectionism
Confidence and Credibility

Developing Countries Role
General
Determining National Interest
Preparation
Building Coalitions
Participation in Negotiations
Result of Negotiations: Agreement
Need for an Intergovernmental Institution
Strength of Developing Countries

WTO Secretariat s Role
Need for Total Neutrality
Broad-based Recruitment
Servicing of Panels/Appellate Body
Role of UNCTAD
Role of NG0s
Prospects for the Future

Endnotes
Bibliography
Index 

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This product was added to our catalog on Monday 27 February, 2012.


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