The Future Wto Agenda And Developing Countries

This comprehensive account of the establishment of the WTO focuses on those who shaped its creation as well as those who have influenced its evolution. It also examines trade negotiations, the WTO's dispute settlement role, the process of joining, and what lies ahead for the organization.

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.

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.

Dated July 1995. Report based on Wilton Park Conference 435:20-24 March 1995:consolidating multilateral trade and the future World Trade Organisation (WTO) agenda

Contents: Energy and Sustainability, Energy, Population Growth and Energy, Turning on the Heat, Between Wish and Reality, Not Yet Fossil Fuel, The Marrakesh Declaration, What is the WTO?, The WTO is Born, New Agenda of the WTO, High World Trade Growth Vs. Output, Overview of WTO s First Year, Overview of WTO s First Two Years, WTO Has Delivered , The Trade Related Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) Agreement and the Developing Countries, Defining the Singapore Message of WTO, WTO Negotiations on Basic Telecommunications, Developing Countries and the Uruguay Round, The WTO Dispute Settlement Mechanism, The WTO and the Developing Countries, World s Trade The Next Challenge, International Trade with the Consumer s Money, Developing Countries After the Uruguay Round, The Uruguay Round, Africa to Gain More, Winners and Losers, Few Signs of Hope in Africa, Trading Towards Peace, The Uruguay Round and Agricultural Reform, WTO Agricultural Negotiations, Give Developing Countries A More Favourable Deal, Beyond the Uruguay Round, Trade and Labour Standards, The Uruguay Round Agreement on Agriculture, Opening Markets for Agriculture, The Future of Agricultural Trade.

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A penetrating look at major challenges to the World Trade Organization and the future of trade liberalization. It also shows how the WTO is moving in a direction at odds with basic democratic principles. The author closes his analysis with some policy recommendations.