‘Development-Orientated Perspectives on Global Trade Governance: A Summary of Proposals for Making Global Trade Governance Work for Development‘

Abstract

This working paper draws together the priorities and proposals set forth in the book 'Making Global Trade Governance Work for Development', and places them in the context of current policy debates and the scholarly literature.The book's overarching argument is that the way global trade is governed can facilitate or hinder the prospects for reaching rules and arrangements that benefit developing countries. Yet, to date, the visibility of development perspectives in the scholarly debates on global trade governance has been weak. Together, the contributors to this book provide concrete guidance on what a development agenda for global trade governance might include. They both reinforce and supplement development - oriented proposals already on the table. For the purpose of this book, governance is broadly defined to include the suite of processes, principles, and norms as well as the institutional architecture through which rules and practices for managing global trade are made, implemented and enforced.The paper begins with a review of the policy context for discussion of global trade governance and institutional reform of the WTO and the rise of debates on development and trade governance. It then outlines the scope of the broader literature on global trade governance and WTO reform, of which the development dimension is one part. It also reviews the main contours of debate on trade and development, noting that these debates have a considerable impact on the thrust of development agendas for trade governance reform. The heart of the paper draws together development-oriented proposals from across the book, showing where and how they build on or diverge from existing proposals. It highlights four thematic areas where clear development priorities and proposals for improved global trade governance exist.The first theme places global trade governance in the context of global economic governance more broadly. It draws attention to the many components of trade governance, highlighting a range of relevant multilateral, bilateral and regional arrangements, as well as the relevance to trade governance of the many international economic, social and environmental regimes that impact development.The second theme addresses expectations about roles and responsibilities of developing countries in trade governance, the diversity of developing country priorities and strategies, their efforts to organize themselves collectively, and their relationships with national stakeholders at. The third theme identifies proposals for strengthening multilateralism in global trade and WTO reforms that would benefit developing countries. In light of the practical challenges of integrating development priorities into WTO negotiations and the subsequent implementation process, proposals in this area relate to the goals and principles underpinning the WTO, the scope of the WTO agenda, its functions (such as dispute settlement, monitoring, and capacity building, among others) and the role of the Secretariat.A fourth theme is devoted to proposals for improving the fairness of processes of trade negotiations at the bilateral, regional and multilateral level. The chapter concludes with the question of political strategy for making global trade governance work for development.