World trade organization and trade liberalization after Doxa

Abstract

Developing countries have highlighted the importance of examine the interlink ages between trade, debt and finance in an effort to find sustainable solutions to these challenges within the context of the multilateral trading system. This paper analyzes what actions could be taken in the context of the WTO Doha negotiations to assist countries to benefit from deeper trade integration. It discusses the policy agenda that confronts many developing countries and identifies a number of focal points that could be used both as targets and as benchmarks to increase the likelihood that WTO negotiations will support development. To achieve these targets a number of negotiating modalities are proposed for both goods and services-related market access issues, as well as rule making in regulatory areas. Developing countries must approach WTO negotiations with a firm view of their national priorities, and seek to ensure that multilateral obligations will assist in and not detract from, the realization of development objectives. For the development community this implies priority should be given to strengthening the capacity to identify national priorities and to analyze the cost and benefits of proposed agreements in light of those priorities.