Trade Policy At The Crossroads

Analyzing the experience of developing countries in recent years and the deadlock in trade negotiation in WTO, the author argues that the theories and practices of trade and industrial policies are surrounded by a number of fallacie, namely: that universal liberalization benefits all developing countries; that the Invisible Hand of free market alone is conducive to industrialization; that the infant industry argument is against export expansion; that developed countries industrialized without government intervention; that WTO rules are conducive to development.

This publication, one of a series of UNCTAD studies which discuss key international trade and development policy issues, uses Indonesia's trade policy experience as a case study to draw wider lessons for future trade policy for developing countries, and the potential benefits and costs of alternative trade strategies. Issues discussed include: the evolution of the Indonesian trade policy regime, trade barriers in export markets, six policy scenarios for trade liberalisation, and potential impacts on exports and imports, government revenues and sectoral effects.

First Published in 2014. Routledge is an imprint of Taylor & Francis, an informa company.

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