The
Multilateral Trading System - A Development Perspective
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
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 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
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.