In The News

Negotiators Meet Again; Minds Don't

February 19, 2003
Negotiations over cheaper medicines for developing countries and agricultural tariffs have again failed to make headway in preparation for the next meeting of the World Trade Organization's Doha round. The inaugural meeting of the Doha round, with the September 11 tragedy still in mind, seemed to unite rich countries in recognizing the need to tackle the problems facing developing nations....

WTO ministers still worlds apart

JUN SAITO February 17, 2003
The prospect of freeing up world trade darkened at the first meeting devoted to agricultural liberalization held in Tokyo. A draft proposal submitted by Stuart Harbinson, the chair of WTO's agricultural negotiations, calling for deeper cuts in tariffs and subsidies on farming products was opposed by a large number of countries. The US and the 17-member Cairns Group of agricultural...

By Invitation Only: Cozy Free Trade Deals Subvert Global Integration

Bernard K. Gordon February 13, 2003
Against most predictions, the Bush administration successfully wooed both Singapore and Chile into free trade agreements, with huge perceived benefits for US investors. Paradoxically, this move away from multilateralism and global trade institutions is not in the interest of the US, the world's largest trader. Professor Bernard K. Gordon examines the paradox, and offers some general...

Bavaria and the Case for Free Trade

Timothy Guinnane February 13, 2003
The small state of Bavaria joined, in 1834, a pan-German free-trade area that preceded the formation of a unified Germany. Integration into Zollverein, as this area was called, hurt some Bavarians and benefited others. The author argues that the downsides to such integration – as with today's globalization – are comparatively short-lived. Today, critics of globalization from both developed...

Brazil Warns on Trade Negotiations with US

Raymond Colitt February 13, 2003
Brazilian officials criticized Washington's recent offer to eliminate all tariffs in the western hemisphere en route to a NAFTA-like free trade agreement. Brasilia is particularly put off by agricultural subsidies and other non-tariff measures that would protect US sensitive markets while allowing penetration of US goods into Latin American markets. Brazil's foreign minister...

E-JUNK: Loophole in dumping law 'hurts public'

Sirinart Sirisunthorn February 11, 2003
Technological junk from around the world is finding its way to Thai ports, where it becomes the government's property – and the government's responsibility. Since Thailand is not a member of international agreements banning trade in hi-tech garbage, it cannot send unclaimed shipping containers back to their country of origin. Instead, Thais must pay to have the contents processed and...

Food Imports: Tough New Checks

February 5, 2003
Thailand’s announcement of more stringent inspections of food imports from the EU and other areas comes after the EU’s own announcement of stricter regulation against Thai food imports. Thai officials claim the new policy is not a retaliation against the EU, whose more rigorous inspections have caused Thai food exporters large financial losses. - YaleGlobal