The WTO, the Post-Doha Agenda and the Future of the Trade System: A Development Perspective
by Martin Khor
Publisher: Third World Network
Year Published: 2002
ISBN: 983-9747-82-7
No. of pages: 54
Price: US$8.00 (inclusive of postage cost by air mail)

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The World Trade Organization (WTO) held its fourth Ministerial Conference in Doha in November 2001 and the decisions made there have resulted in an important and also heavy Work Programme which will also have very significant implications for developing countries.

The Doha decisions and the follow-up have also placed the WTO and the multilateral trading system at an important crossroads. Important decisions have to be taken on the shape and nature of the WTO and the trade system.

This book provides a development perspective of some of the recent developments and issues arising in the WTO and reviews some key aspects of the post-Doha Work Programme.

It also outlines issues and challenges regarding the existing rules and systems in the WTO, proposes ways of re-orienting the WTO towards a development-centered approach to trade policy and suggests what should be the mandate of the WTO and the multilateral trading system.

CONTENTS

1. Introduction

2. Issues and challenges regarding the present WTO system
(1) Issues of concern to developing countries
(2) Anticipated benefits not realised: Agriculture and textiles
(3) Problems for developing countries when implementing their own obligations
(4) Resolving the imbalances first, or paying again as part of the post-Doha package?

3. The post-Doha WTO work programme
(1) Summary of the outcome
(2) The preparatory phase and the Doha process and decisions
(3) The post-Doha work programme:Overview
(4) Implementation issues
(5) Agriculture
(6) Services
(7) Industrial products
(8) Trade and environment
(9) Intellectual property (TRIPS)
(10) The Singapore issues: general
(11) Relationship between trade and investment
(12) Interaction between trade and competition policy
(13) Transparency in government procurement
(14) Trade facilitation

4. Conclusions: Rethinking trade policy and the multilateral trade system
(1) Rethinking trade policy and the nature and timing of liberalisation
(2) Re-orienting the WTO towards development as the main priority
(3) Reconsidering the introduction of proposed 'new issues' into the WTO
(4) Rethinking the scope of the WTO's mandate and the role of other agencies
(5) Transparency and participation in the WTO system

References