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Oxford Review of Economic Policy 2007 23(3):347-366; doi:10.1093/oxrep/grm026
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Copyright © The Author 2007. Published by Oxford University Press.

Why is it so difficult? Trade liberalization under the Doha Agenda

Will Martin*
Patrick Messerlin**
* World Bank, Washington, DC, e-mail: wmartin1{at}worldbank.org
** Groupe d'Economie Mondiale at Sciences Po, Paris, e-mail: patrick.messerlin{at}sciences-po.fr


  Abstract

Many explanations have been offered for the current difficulties of the World Trade Organization (WTO). In fact, the system appears to have managed many of these challenges reasonably well, including the increase in the number of members, its ‘mediaeval’ decision-making procedures, the changing geopolitical environment, the rapid growth of preferential trade arrangements (PTAs), the complexity of its agreements, and concerns about erosion of unilateral preferences. By contrast, the near-exhaustion of the traditional fuel of industrial-country non-agricultural tariffs, the increasing importance of non-trade concerns, and incomplete adjustment to a new, multi-polar negotiating system appear to be important factors requiring further examination.

Key Words: WTO • GATT • trade negotiations • international relations • Doha Development Agenda • multilateral • trading system • diplomacy

The views expressed in this paper are those of the authors alone and should not be attributed to the World Bank or any other institution. We are very grateful to Clem Boonekamp, Michael Finger, Simon Evenett, Carmen Luz Guarda, Bernard Hoekman, Douglas Irwin, Leonardo Iacovone, Phil Levy, Patrick Low, and David Vines, and to participants in a research seminar at the WTO and an Oxford Review of Economic Policy editorial seminar for valuable comments.

1 Thanks are due to David Laborde and Dominique van der Mensbrugghe for this estimate.

2 Along with tariff-cutting rules and expanding trade for developing countries.


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