Most of the large tariff reductions achieved in multilateral trade negotiations have involved the use of tariff-cutting formulas, such as the “Swiss” formula. But the wide variations in initial tariff rates between active participants may create a demand for new approaches in the Doha...

This study presents a survey of issues and concerns raised in the WTO's Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade, with particular emphasis on discussions related to agro-food products. It thereby aims to provide background information on TBT-related activities during the period 1995- 2001. The...

Despite the shortcomings of Hayek’s spontaneous order, there is a positive side, perhaps even a positive feedback. Hayek left us with a “what if” question and returns us to that initial opening of Pandora’s Box, or perhaps the initial onset of neo-realism, neo-liberalism,...

Trade preferences towards developing countries do not seem to have been up to the expectations they created in the latter as a way to guarantee their access to markets in developed countries. In this article, I describe the main characteristics of the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP),...

East Asian nations are currently undertaking the future development of an economic community by creating a viable framework for closer cooperation and deeper integration. However, the intractable problem is that there are a lot of diversities and heterogeneity that have prevented the East Asian...

There is a considerable body of analysis available that aims to quantify the economic and trade effects of textile and clothing market liberalisation. A number of analysts at national and international institutions have provided their assessments. Different tools and approaches have thereby been...

Critics have muddled the public debate over offshore outsourcing by using the term interchangeably to refer to altogether different phenomena such as on-line purchase of services, direct foreign investment and, sometimes, all imports. We argue that clarity requires distinguishing among these...

This study seeks to review some of the key issues surrounding ongoing WTO negotiations on trade liberalisation of environmental goods and to provide trade data and analyses to assess developing countries’ current and potential performance in environmental goods trade. Data indicate that...

Uma breve apresentação do GATS (Acordo de Comércio sobre Comércio de Serviços) da Organização Mundial de Comércio, que ilustra quais os principais parâmetros do seu âmbito, bem como, qual o modelo de negociação das sucessivas 'rondas' negociais.