The appointment of Dr.
Supachai Panitchpakdi as Director-General of the World Trade Organization in 2002 reflects
the changing power realities within the WTO. Coupled to this is the growing sense among
developing countries that they have been cheated in the way the Uruguay Round commitments
have been implemented and a return to unilateralism by the U.S.. The world trading system
thus stands at a crossroads. The success of the current Doha Round of trade negotiations
hangs in the balance. This volume examines various ways in which the WTO might be reformed
or improved and the chances of success in the Doha Round thus enhanced.
The WTO has an important
role to play in managing globalisation so that its benefits are shared far more equally
among individuals than is today the case. This challenge must be met if we are not to
slide backwards into a less interdependent, and far poorer, world.
Among the specific issues
researched and analysed here are: the U.S.-led return to a unilateralist and
interventionist approach to global problems; the importance of the rules-based WTO system
to developing nations as a crucial alternative to power politics; the failure to achieve
enhanced access to developed world markets for agricultural products, textiles, clothing,
and footwear; the relevance of GATS and TRIPS to the developing world; internal WTO
governance issues, including the important role of the Secretariat as negotiator and
mediator; the implementation phase of the dispute settlement understanding; the continuing
resistance to linking trade and environment; the place of human rights in the
international trading system; and the likely impact of the double scourge of AIDS and
terrorism on flows of trade, capital, people, and knowledge.
It will quickly be observed
that this book represents an approach to world trade theory that will not be welcome in
all circles. Yet few will deny its enormous value as a reality check. No concerned policy
maker, official or academic can afford to ignore it.
Table of
Contents
1. The Changing Face of
World Trade and the Biggest Issue Facing the WTO, and the World, Today; R. P. Buckley.
2. Living Up to the Promises
of Global Trade; C. Sampford, T. Chataway, R. Lui, M. Palmer.
3. The Multilateral Trading
System at Risk? Three Challenges to the World Trade Organisation; A. Capling.
4. The Post-Doha Trade
Agenda: Questions About Constituents, Competence and Coherence; J. L. Dunoff.
5. International Civil
Servants and Multilateral Trade Negotiations; Xu Yi-chong, P. Weller.
6. The Implementation Phase
of Dispute Settlement in the World Trade Organization: An Imperfect System Needing Reform
to Maintain its Effectiveness and Credibility; B. Mercurio.
7. It s Not Easy Being Green
Trade and Environment Linkages Beyond Doha; J. McDonald.
8. Dreaming of Red Mansions:
Rights, China and the WTO; A. Francis.
9. Towards
Post-establishment National Treatment of Foreign Investment Enterprises in China From BITs
to TRIMs; Chen Xuebin.
10. Cultural and Political
Contexts for the Future of World Trade; R. Dellios.
11. Lessons for the WTO from
the Bilateral Free Trade Agreements of EFTA; A. Ziegler.
12. The Twin Security
Challenges of AIDS and Terrorism: Implications for Flows of Trade, Capital, People and
Knowledge; B. Condon.
320 pages