The Development Dimension of the Agriculture Negotiations.
In view of the role of agriculture in the social and economic development of developing countries and their experience implementing rules and liberalization commitments related to agricultural trade, the need to redefine the boundaries of the development dimension in multilateral rules governing agricultural trade has emerged. (more…)
Market Power, Price Formation and Primary Commodities.
There has been widespread concern for many years over the very abstract nature of orthodox economic theory, especially that of the neo-classical school which has dominated the profession since the late 19th century. Such disquiet is frequently felt among non-economists, but a great many dissident economists have also expressed their disquiet over the years. (more…)
Increasing LDC Participation in Services through Special Priority Market Access in the WTO.
The participation of Least Developed Countries (LDCs) in international trade in services is minimal. Unlike the case of goods, in services, LDCs compete on a Most Favoured Nation (MFN) basis. It is therefore impossible for a country to give a market opening only to LDCs, on terms more favourable than is available to others. (more…)
The Development Dimension of the GATS Domestic Regulation Negotiations.
This Analytical Note discusses the implications GATS Article VI: 4 disciplines can have on developing countries and least developed countries and their pursuit for development through domestic regulations. (more…)
Elements for the Architecture of Aid for Trade.
The underlying message of this paper is that aid for trade is important to mitigate trade-induced adjustment costs and to bolster supply-side capacity in developing countries. However, aid is only second-best to balanced, fair and equitable trading rules. (more…)
Rethinking policy options for Export Earnings.
Although the structure of International Trade has changed significantly in favour of manufactures, primary commodities remain extremely important for several developing as well as Least Developed Countries. A large number are still dependent on a limited basket of primary commodities for their exports.
The Potential Impacts of Nano-Scale Technologies on Commodity Markets: the Implications for Commodity-Dependent Developing Countries.
Commodity production is the mainstay of the economy in most developing countries. According to UNCTAD, commodity dependence is measured by the share of the three leading commodities in a given country’s total exports. The bigger the share, the more dependent the country is. Commodity dependence and poverty are closely intertwined. (more…)
Problems and Policy Challenges faced by Commodity-Dependent Developing Countries.
This note presents the commodity problems and their implications for Commodity Dependent Developing Countries (CDDCs); (ii) identifies the underlying causes of these problems and (iii) examines some of the major policy approaches used in the past to deal with them, their merits and limitations. (more…)
Supply-side Measures for Raising Low Farm-Gate Prices of Tropical Beverage Commodities.
This year has seen how governments and individuals can respond with immense energy and generosity to relieve the suffering of people caught up in natural disasters. The man-made crisis affecting the markets of tropical commodities is every bit as devastating as any of these disasters, yet not only is there very little being done to address the problem but very few people are even aware of it. (more…)
Remunerating Commodity Producers in Developing Countries: Regulating Concentration in Commodity Markets.
The past few decades have seen a huge surge in international trade that has affected developing countries as well as the world’s largest economies. However, while some countries have seen an associated increase in wealth, others seem to have been left behind. (more…)
Overview of the Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures in Quad Countries on Tropical Fruits and Vegetables Imported from Developing Countries.
A number of developing countries,1 and especially least developed countries (LDCs), rely on agriculture for their food security, export earnings and rural development. It has been estimated that the agricultural sector accounts for between 30 per cent and 60 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP) for many of these countries, and is the major source of foreign exchange. (more…)
A Conceptual Framework to Understand Supply Management Programmes.
A supply management programme can be defined as a policy tool that controls the production and supply of a commodity in order to achieve a desirable price objective in a relevant market. (more…)
