The issue of extending geographic indicator protection to products other than wines and spirits has created wide divergences between demandeurs and opponent countries at the WTO. This article examines the economic impacts of the proposals submitted at the WTO by these two groups of countries,...

Among developing countries, one can identify both proponents and opponents of extending the use of geographical indications (GIs) beyond wines and spirits. Such an extension is currently being discussed under the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) of the...

Over the past decade, coffee producers have been struggling with the world market’s low and unstable coffee prices. Some coffee producing countries try to overcome this crisis by moving from pure commodity exports to higher-price exports of niche market quality products, like...

This article discusses some economic issues linked to the 2006 European regulation regarding geographical indications. Economic implications of this regulation for foreign producers are investigated. The article examines whether or not the development of a geographical indication is a profitable...

There are two basic types of legal regime for the protection of geographical indications (GIs). Some systems, notably that of the European Union, define and treat GIs as a distinct type of intellectual property. This approach is also reflected in the provisions concerning GIs in the Agreement on...

This article provides an overview of the provisions on geographical indications contained in the TRIPS Agreement and how they came about in the Uruguay Round of multilateral trade negotiations, which took place from 1986 to 1994 and resulted in the establishment of the World Trade Organization....

In spite of the rapid growth of merchandise trade since the end of World War II, the world economy is far from integrated. Services trade, capital flows, population migration, and price differences demonstrate far more scope for international economic integration. Even among nations with...

In this paper we first discuss whether or not the modern form of mercantilism that contributes to the trade deficit of the United States and other countries is a self-destructive and thus self-correcting strategy. We argue that it is not self-correcting. Then we discuss mechanisms that a trade...

This study assesses the nature and practice of cross-border trade in Kenya with a view to filling the information gap on its patterns and key characteristics, a gap that has hitherto acted to hinder effective policy formulation. The study relies on information from a number of cross-border...

In the framework of the new round of trade liberalization launched in Doha, paragraph 13 of the Development Declaration states that members will support special and differential treatment to accommodate development, including food security. This article simulates scenarios of multilateral tariff...