Dear Colleagues,
We invite your participation in the discussion forum "The Multilateral
Trade Regime Seen Through a Global Public Goods Lens: New insights on old problems"
to be held on the global public goods Network ( http://www.gpgNet.net ) platform
from 7 July to 21 July 2003.
You may subscribe to the discussion forum by sending a blank email to subscribe-gpgnet-trade@groups.undp.org
In the last fifty years, there has been a marked expansion
of the multilateral trade regime-more commonly known as the World Trade Organization
(WTO)-both in terms of coverage of issues and membership. Its expanded scope,
particularly covering so-called behind-the-border-policies across a growing
number of countries, makes this regime easily display global public goods characteristics
of de facto non-exclusivity and
non-rivalry. This regime is being placed in the global public domain-affecting
all-largely through the confluence of individual countries' policies.
Yet even as the 5th WTO Ministerial meeting 2003 in Cancun, Mexico approaches, there is still a raging debate as to the net benefits that developing countries gain from membership in this regime. Many in the developing world argue that the last major round of trade negotiations-the Uruguay Round-generated skewed benefits in favor of the industrialized countries. Still there are those who support further trade liberalization and expansion of the WTO. Perhaps most important in the present context, the issue of whether and to what extent a new "development round" could be launched is at the center of ongoing discussions.
Prospects for a "development round" in Cancun seem
bleak at present. Already, there appears to be a stalemate on many issues of
interest to developing countries, including, among others, those on further
agricultural liberalization in Northern countries and the balance between Trade
Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) and health. The complete
background paper to the discussion is available at
http://www.gpgnet.net/discussion.php
Please join us for this debate and share with us -- and the global public-- your observations on this topic.
Yours sincerely,
Inge Kaul, Director, Office of Development Studies
Vikas Nath, gpgNet.net Forum Manager
United Nations Development Programme
Email: info@gpgnet.net
URL: http://www.gpgnet.net
* gpgNet.net intends to serve researchers, policymakers, business and civil society as a platform for information exchange and discussion on issues concerning the theory, policy design and practice of providing global public goods
* 7 July to 21 July 2003: gpgNet.net Forum on "The Multilateral Trade Regime Seen Through a Global Public Goods Lens: New insights on old problems." Read the complete background paper to the discussion at http://www.gpgnet.net/discussion.php
* To subscribe to the forum, send a blank email to <subscribe-gpgnet-trade@groups.undp.org>