A Positive Agenda For Developing Countries

This handbook presents a collection of technical papers prepared as background papers in the framework of regional and Ad Hoc meetings held by Member States, in parallel with the preparatory process of the Third World Trade Organization (WTO) Ministerial Conference. The compilation of papers include: the positive agenda and the Seattle Conference; elements of a positive agenda; special and differential treatment in the context of globalisation; the post-Uruguay Round tariff environment for developing country exports; the interest of developing countries in the next round of WTO agricultural negotiations; trade-related investment measures; technical transfer in the WTO agreements; and electronic-commerce, WTO and developing countries.

D. Rights of the child

This book systematically explores the trade and environment interests of developing countries from a Southern perspective. The contributors write explicitly about both hopes and fears in the South. Essays are from leading experts and thought leaders from various regions of the South who work for bold new agendas and priorities for their region.

Since the conclusion of the Uruguay Round, there has been widespread interest among development practitioners as well as governments in assessing the economic implications of the results of the Round for individual developing countries. This publication highlights what is to be learned from existing country-specific studies in terms of methodology, findings & policy implications; elements of an appropriate policy-oriented framework for country-specific analysis of the effects of the Uruguay Round Agreements & their follow-up on developing countries; & issues to be considered in setting a positive trade agenda for developing countries in future multilateral negotiations.

The "development credibility" of the current trade regime in general, and the WTO in particular, is at stake. The Doha Round aims to reverse the brewing scepticism by providing a reliable engine of trade-led growth and development. The essays in this volume identify the key challenges in this regard, make an assessment of the current situation in agriculture and manufacturing market access and evaluate alternative policy options that will make the goal attainable.

'A compelling contribution to our evolving understanding of the links between trade, aid and security and what the international community needs to do to ensure peace and development in the world.' Achim Steiner, Executive Director, United Nations Environment Programme 'For far too long the international community ahs stood by while countries around the world descend into conflict and anarchy. We need to understand how we can engage more effectively with fragile and failing states. Trade, Aid and Security is an important step in this direction.' Jan Pronk, Special Representative of the UN General Secretary in Sudan and Former Minister of Development and the Environment, The Netherlands. 'As we begin to contemplate what the post-Iraq world will look like it is vital that we reflect on the limits of the utility of hard power and the importance that development can play in avoiding failed states before they fail, preventing conflicts and more successfully re-building states. This timely book makes a most important contribution to that process.' Lord Paddy Ashdown, UN High Representative for Boznia and Herzegovina, 2002 2006 Leader of UK Liberal Democrat Party, 1988 1999 'As UN Special Representative to the Great Lakes Region of Africa I have seen the devastating impact of the trade in conflict resources with my own eyes. Amongst much else, this book shows how different trade and aid politics can tackle the trade in conflict resources and make a real contribution to secure societies. It is essential reading.' Mohamed Sahnoun, Special Representative of the UN Secretary General in Central and East Africa. Iraq, Afghanistan, Darfur. All resonate loudly on the international stage, exposing and illustrating the intractable links between global security, control over naturals resources be it oil, water, timber or 'conflict diamonds' and the manipulation of foreign aid and international trade policy. This volume, written by leading authorities from across the globe, introduces the linkages between trade, aid and security, and exposes how inappropriate or misused trade and aid policy can and do undermine security and contribute to violence and the disintegration of national states. On a practical level they demonstrate how six key areas of trade and aid policy can be used to help forge stability and security, reduce the likelihood of armed conflict, and assist economic and political recovery in our war-torn world.

In recent years the relationships between trade and the environment, and trade and development, have become increasingly complex. The need to reconcile the competing demands of economic growth, economic development, and environmental protection has become central to the multilateral trade agenda. In this volume various commentators debate the role of the World Trade Organization and other institutions in addressing these challenges. The book arises from the papers presented at two High Level Symposia hosted by the World Trade Organization in March 1999, on Trade and the Environment and Trade and Development. The first section of the work focuses on the relationship between trade and the environment. The issues addressed include the need for WTO members to pursue integrated trade and environmental policies in order to achieve sustainable development, ways in which the removal of trade restrictions and distortions can lead to positive environmental and development solutions, the relationship between WTO provisions and trade measures contained in environmental agreements, and the need for transparency and effective interaction between civil society and the trade community. The second section examines the growing importance of developing countries in the global trading system over the last 30 years, and the ways in which the inequalities which persist between countries may be addressed. The papers include discussion of the need for integration of the least-developed countries into the multilateral trading system, the ways in which international institutions may work together to realize the objective of development, the complex role of trade liberalization in development, and the importance of new technologies in accelerating integration between developing and developed countries.

This publication examines the implications of the World Trade Organization's (WTO) agenda for developing countries of Asia and the Pacific region. As countries are about to enter into new negotiations, it is encouraging to note early indications that the turmoil of the past two years has abated. If these positive trends persist, developing countries should be in a better position to intensify their cooperative efforts and to collectively press for a positive trade agenda that will respond to their development needs and priorities. It is hoped that this publication will assist developing countries in their efforts in pursuing a more balanced and equitable trade agenda.