Globalization and the Least Developed Countries

Globalization and the Least Developed Countries
Author: David Bigman
Publisher: CABI
Total Pages: 338
Release: 2007-01-01
Genre: Social Science
ISBN: 1845933095

One of the most notable changes in the world economy during the past three decades has been the diverging trends in the growth of the developing countries. This book examines the opportunities open to the least developed countries as they design their strategies to accelerate growth and alleviate poverty.

Acceding to the WTO from a Least-developed Country Perspective

Acceding to the WTO from a Least-developed Country Perspective
Author: Markus Krajewski
Publisher: Nomos Verlagsgesellschaft
Total Pages: 0
Release: 2011
Genre: Ethiopia
ISBN: 9783832962708

Acceding to the World Trade Organization (WTO) entails enormous challenges for developing countries - in particular, the least-developed countries. The challenges include the effects of market opening and international competition on the local economy, as well as fundamental aspects of law and regulatory reform. This book addresses these challenges, from the perspective of Ethiopia, which has been negotiating its accession to the WTO since 2003. The topics addressed include the effects of WTO law on agriculture, intellectual property rights, financial market regulation, as well as regional integration in Africa. The book will appeal to all who are interested in the impact of world trade law on developing countries. (Series: Studies in International Economic Law Vol. 3)

The Least Developed Countries, the World Trade Organisation and the Norm of Special Treatment

The Least Developed Countries, the World Trade Organisation and the Norm of Special Treatment
Author: Helen Hawthorne
Publisher:
Total Pages:
Release: 2011
Genre:
ISBN:

This thesis examines the special treatment of the Least Developed Countries (LDCs) in the World Trade Organisation (WTO). The categorisation of the LDCs by the United Nations in 1971 not only created a new classification of counties, but also created an international norm of special treatment for these countries. The norm of special treatment for LDCs has, since then, slowly spread throughout the international system and has been institutionalised in many international organisations, including the WTO. Evidence of the institutionalisation of the norm within the WTO can be found in its founding documents and agreements, as well as in the Doha Development Agenda. This institutionalisation of the norm has meant that LDCs have been provided with special treatment in the trade regime, which is not provided to other categories of member. This thesis will trace the development and institutionalisation of the international norm of special treatment for LDCs and will focus specifically on its institutionalisation within the GATT/WTO. The thesis uses the concept of the norm lifecycle to demonstrate how the norm of special treatment for LDCs has grown in strength over time and become institutionalised, but has yet to be fully internalised. Through the use of case studies looking at accession, market access and cotton, it argues that the recent agency of the LDCs means that they can be seen as norm entrepreneurs helping to further the norm of special treatment by their appeals to it.

Least Developed Countries and the WTO

Least Developed Countries and the WTO
Author: H. Hawthorne
Publisher: Springer
Total Pages: 183
Release: 2013-05-07
Genre: Political Science
ISBN: 1137269774

A norm of special treatment for LDCs, created by the UN, has spread to various international organisations including the WTO. Within the WTO evidence of the institutionalization of the norm can be found both in the agreements and legal documents and the way in which the LDCs have been treated by other states. Helen Hawthorne investigates how norms impact on negotiations in international organisations. She shows that few studies of international organisations focus on the role of the weaker states in the organization, the majority focus either on the major states or the emerging economies. By ignoring the role of the poorer, weaker states in the GATT/WTO we are ignoring the history of these states in the organisation and do not get a true picture of the organization, how it operates in relation to them and their impact on the organisation.

Handbook on the Least Developed Country Category

Handbook on the Least Developed Country Category
Author:
Publisher:
Total Pages: 106
Release: 2008
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN:

The present Handbook contains a comprehensive explanation of the criteria, procedures and methodology used in establishing which countries are eligible for inclusion in, or recommended for graduation from, the Least Developed Countries (LDC) category. It also provides an overview of the special support measures that can be derived from having least developed country status and the implications of graduating from the list in terms of the potential loss of such measures. The Handbook aims at promoting a better understanding of the LDC category and the benefits derived from membership therein.

Developing countries' Participation in the World Trade Organization

Developing countries' Participation in the World Trade Organization
Author: Constantine Michalopoulos
Publisher: World Bank Publications
Total Pages: 43
Release: 1998
Genre: Acuerdos comerciales - Paises en desarrollo
ISBN:

March 1998 Many developing countries are not participating in the World Trade Organization as much as they should. What can be done about it? In the 1960s and 1970s developing countries viewed UNCTAD rather than the GATT as the main institution through which to promote their interests in international trade. But beginning with the Uruguay Round in the mid-1980s, their attitude changed, many more of them became members of the GATT, and a significant number played an active role in negotiations. Michalopoulos analyzes developing countries' representation and participation in the World Trade Organization (WTO) as of mid-1997 to determine how developing countries can effectively promote their interests and discharge their responsibilities under the rules and agreements of the new organization. He concludes that although many developing countries are actively participating in the new process, more than half of the developing countries that are members of the WTO participate little more than they did in the early 1980s and have not increased their staffing, despite the vastly greater complexity of issues and obligations. Institutional weaknesses at home are the main constraints to effective participation and representation of their interests at the WTO. To make their participation more effective, Michalopoulos recommends that the developing countries establish adequately staffed WTO missions based in Geneva; failing that, pooling their resources and representation in Geneva; and being sure to pay their dues, which are typically small. He recommends that the international community place higher priority on programs of assistance in support of institutional development of poorer countries aimed at enhancing their capacity to participate in the international trading system and the WTO-and that the WTO review its internal rules and procedures to ensure that inadvertently they do not make developing countries participation more difficult. This paper is part of a larger effort by the World Bank to collaborate with the World Trade Organization in developing approaches for the more effective integration of the developing countries in the international trading system. The author may be contacted at [email protected].

Boosting Trade Opportunities for Least-developed Countries

Boosting Trade Opportunities for Least-developed Countries
Author:
Publisher:
Total Pages:
Release: 2022
Genre:
ISBN: 9789287053510

This report looks at progress over the past decade in supporting the integration of least-developed countries (LDCs) into the multilateral trading system. Prepared as the WTO's contribution to the 5th United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries (LDC5), the report highlights that international efforts to help LDCs increase their participation in global trade are needed more than ever before in view of the enormous challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Important progress has been achieved in boosting LDC exports over the last decade by improving market access opportunities for LDCs and by granting them flexibilities in the implementation of WTO rules. Further efforts will be needed to support trade growth in LDCs in the next decade. LDC5 can set a path for allowing LDCs to fully realize their trade potential and to take advantage of emerging opportunities. The integration of LDCs into global trade is still a priority as trade can play an important role in driving economic growth and supporting sustainable development.

Guide to the WTO and Developing Countries

Guide to the WTO and Developing Countries
Author: Peter Gallagher
Publisher: Springer
Total Pages: 376
Release: 2000-09-25
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN:

Developing countries comprise a two-thirds majority of the membership of the World Trade Organization, with nearly thirty of these classed by the UN as being among the 48 least-developed countries in the world. In order to ensure the equitable participation of these countries in the benefits of the global trading system, the GATT Uruguay Round Agreements that created the WTO accorded special and differential treatment to developing countries. This Guide covers these provisions of the WTO Agreements, with detailed information on how developing countries can benefit from special rules governing such areas as: access to developed country markets in all major commodities and services, the dispute settlement process, trade policy review, foreign direct investment, environmental and labour standards, and technical assistance. The Guide also offers the reader case studies on how some developing country members of the WTO (Uganda, India, and CandÔte d'Ivoire) are making progress in working with the obligations and the benefits provided to them by the WTO Agreements.