The Uneven Playing Field in International Trade in Developing Countries: A Critical Interjection and Review

The World Trade Organization (WTO), established on 1 January 1995 as a successor to the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT), has played an important role in promoting global free trade. The implementation of its agreements, however, has not been smooth and easy. In fact this has been particularly difficult for developing countries, since they are expected to be on a level playing field with the developed countries. After more than a decade of existence, it is worth looking at the WTO’s impact on developing countries, particularly Muslim countries. This paper focuses mainly on the performance of merchandise trade of Muslim countries after they joined the WTO. I first analyze their participation in world merchandise trade and highlight their trade characteristics in general. This is then followed by a short discussion on the implications of WTO agreements on Muslim countries and some recommendations on how to face this challenge.

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The Importance of International Trade to the Economies of Developing Countries

SSRN Electronic Journal ◽

10.2139/ssrn.3664322 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Nwabueze Prince Okenna

Keyword(s):

Developing Countries ◽

International Trade

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Problems of the preliminary customs informing system and the introduction of the Single Window at the sea check points of the Russian Federation

MATEC Web of Conferences ◽

10.1051/matecconf/201823904004 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 239 ◽

pp. 04004 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Svetlana Maydanova ◽

Igor Ilin

Keyword(s):

Developing Countries ◽

International Trade ◽

Russian Federation ◽

International Organizations ◽

International Standards ◽

Eurasian Economic Union ◽

Check Points ◽

The Russian Federation ◽

Economic Union ◽

National Governments

The Single Window concept in the international trade and logistics has been explored by international organizations and national governments over the last two decades. International standards and recommendations, government decisions on this approach are widespread today in both developed and developing countries. Similar decisions and legal acts were implemented during the last ten years by the Russian Federation, as a member of the Eurasian Economic Union. This article provides overview of the following coherent stage – the implementation of preliminary customs informing system at sea check points of the RF with concerns of the Single Window introduction.

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International Governance on Carbon Tariff and Its Vacuum in International Regime

Chinese Journal of Urban and Environmental Studies ◽

10.1142/s2345748113500085 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 01 (01) ◽

pp. 1350008 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Mou WANG

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Developing Countries ◽

International Trade ◽

Global Climate ◽

Developed Countries ◽

International Governance ◽

International Consensus ◽

Climate Governance ◽

Emission Quota ◽

Carbon Tariff

Drawing on the idea that countries are eligible to implement differentiated emission reduction policies based on their respective capabilities, some parties of UNFCCC attempt to weaken the principle of “Common but differentiated responsibilities(CBDR)” and impose carbon tariff on international trade. This initiative is in fact another camouflage to burden developing countries with emission cut obligation, which has no doubt undermined the development rights of developing countries. This paper defines Carbon Tariff as border measures that target import goods with embodied carbon emission. It can be import tariffs or other domestic tax measures that adjust border tax, which includes plain import tariffs and export rebates, border tax adjustment, emission quota and permit etc. For some developed countries, carbon tariffs mean to sever trade protectionism and to build trade barriers. Its theoretical arguments like “loss of comparative advantage”, “carbon leakage decreases environmental effectiveness” and “theoretical model bases” are pseudo-propositions without international consensus. Carbon tariff has become an intensively debated issue due to its duality of climate change and trade, but neither UNFCCC nor WTO has clarified this issue or has indicated a clear statement in this regard. As a result, it allows some parties to take advantage of this loophole and escape its international climate change obligation. Carbon tariff is an issue arising from global climate governance. To promote the cooperation of global climate governance and safeguard the social and economic development of developing countries, a fair and justified climate change regime and international trade institution should be established, and the settlement of the carbon tariff issue should be addressed within these frameworks. This paper argues that the international governance of carbon tariff should in cooperation with other international agreements; however, principles and guidelines regarding this issue should be developed under the UNFCCC. Based on these principles and guidelines, WTO can develop related technical operation provisions.

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Labor Standards: Where Do They Belong on the International Trade Agenda?

The Journal of Economic Perspectives ◽

10.1257/jep.15.3.89 ◽

2001 ◽

Vol 15 (3) ◽

pp. 89-112 ◽

Cited By ~ 47

Author(s):

Drusilla K Brown

Keyword(s):

Developing Countries ◽

International Trade ◽

Labor Standards ◽

Labor Regulation ◽

National Sovereignty ◽

The Past ◽

Trade Sanctions ◽

Technical Advice ◽

Intense Debate

During the past decade, universal labor standards have become the focus of intense debate. Advocates argue from humanitarian concerns and the interests of industrialized-country labor, seeking enforcement with WTO sanctions. Opponents regard labor regulation as a matter of national sovereignty, challenge the effectiveness of trade sanctions, and prefer the ILO emphasis on dialogue, monitoring and technical advice. This paper analyzes the labor standards debate, with specific attention to the analytical underpinnings of universal rules; evidence linking weak labor protections in developing countries to industrialized country wages; and the role of labor standards in WTO negotiations.

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