Options for Global Trade Reform

A study of the impact of trade policy reform on the fortunes of the Asia Pacific region.

In November 2001 the members of the World Trade Organization approved the start of new trade talks at the WTO ministerial meeting in Doha. These trade talks will have profound implications for economic growth in the developed and developing world. Here a team of authors identify ways in which progress might be made on the key negotiating topics.Despite the decision of the WTO members to launch a new round of negotiations at their Doha Ministerial in November 2001, developing countries continue to have very real concerns on a number of key issues. The successful completion of the Doha trade round and the realization of the goals of its Development Agenda represent a major challenge for both the developed and the developing world. The primary aim of this volume is to improve understanding of the issues, the objectives of policy and the options for trade policy reform particularly as they impact on the Asia-Pacific region. A team of authors from developing and developed countries in the Asia-Pacific identify ways in which progress might be made on the key negotiating topics, including market access and related issues in agriculture, non-agriculture merchandise and in trade in services.