Development Cooperation Within the Framework of the World Trade Organization

Abstract

The book addresses the issues of international development cooperation and the involvement of the World Trade Organization (WTO) in activities supporting developing countries in their integration into the world trading system. The author's intention was to examine what kind of role and significance the WTO plays in the area of development cooperation, assuming that a number of the organization’s activities fall within the scope of assistance. To this end, the types of activities have been specified, defined and explained. The author has done so on the basis of a critical analysis of the following areas: development assistance mechanisms and instruments, principles and rules of trade policy, GATT and WTO multilateral negotiations, special forms of cooperation between the WTO and developing countries. A qualitative study was conducted based on empirical data contained in documents, reports, scientific papers as well as OECD, WTO and UNCTAD statistical databases. The author has made an assessment of the WTO's action in the field of development cooperation, which is - so far - ambiguous and unclear. Nevertheless, the direction of evolution of the WTO strongly indicates the option of greater involvement and support of developing countries in their process of economic modernization. This is in line with the expectations of WTO's members, most of which include developing countries. In light of the ongoing debate on the future of the WTO, these countries are counting on greater support to achieve their trade-related development goals. In turn, it is in the interest of highly developed countries (USA, EU) to increase the effectiveness of the organization. This means changing trade rules and principles to adapt to new international conditions, including the adoption of a new type of support for less developed countries.