The Multilateral Trading System - A Development Perspective
Third World Network
Third World Network, Malaysia, analyses the global governance of trade from a development and developing country perspective with a particular emphasis on its institutional framework. The paper begins by looking at the role of trade and the world trading system in the context of development. It provides a useful analysis of the historical evolution of the world trading system in the post World War II period within which it contextualises and analyses the current multilateral trade regime embodied in the WTO, using several WTO Agreements as illustrations. It then looks at the impact and implications of some of these agreements on development and developing countries, offering proposals for both improving the multilateral trading regime as well as for institutional and structural reform of the world trading system.

The Global Governance of Trade As If Development Really Mattered
Dani Rodrik
Dan Rodrik looks at trade through a development lens, with particular emphasis on assessing the relationship between trade, growth and poverty. He provides an analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of the existing trading system. The assumptions underlying trade liberalization and its relationship with growth and poverty are critically analysed. Based on the evidence, the paper makes proposals for how the multilateral trade regime and its agreements and practices need to change to better serve the goals of human development. The paper makes suggestions to developing countries on a range of pertinent issues, including on the crucial question of the degree of trade openness which is likely to be consistent with development objectives and outcomes under different country circumstances.

Trade, Gender and Poverty
Nilufer Cagatay
Nilufer Cagatay provides a review of the theoretical and empirical literature on gender inequalities and international trade, paying special attention to the impact of trade liberalization policies on gendered patterns of employment and working conditions. It relates this discussion to the debates on the relationship between trade policy, income inequality and poverty. It also explores whether and how gender inequalities in earnings and employment conditions affect the international competitive position of an economy and whether competitive pressures under trade liberalization pose an obstacle to achieving gender equality in labour markets. The author concludes with some recommendations on the type of trade and public policies that can help reduce gender inequalities.

A Report on the Regional and Global Consultations for the Trade and Sustainable Human Development Project (January 2002)
One global and seven regional consultations were held to discuss the implementation of trade and the world trade regime for sustainable Human Development at the national, sub-national and regional level. This is a report on the overall outcome of the meetings as well as a summary of the key issues that emerged from the discussions.

March 1, 2002.