Back to Basics

de Sam Laird

This paper focuses on market access issues in merchandise trade that developing countries might address in the next negotiations of the World Trade Organization. It covers the following issues: an analysis of the patterns of trade and protection in agriculture and manufacturing, a review of the main results of the Doha WTO Ministerial Conference, and an evaluation of the likely impact of several liberalization scenarios. Based on its analysis, a conclusion is drawn on the size of potential gains that developing countries could derive from improved market access in merchandise trade.--Publisher's description.