The World Trade Organization (WTO) is aimed at promoting international trade.
Under the auspices of the WTO Secretariat in Geneva, the 153 members negotiate and make (long-term) agreements regarding rules for international trade. In addition, many countries enter into bilateral trade agreements.
LEI is analysing the economic consequences of trade agreements from a Dutch, European and global perspective.
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Doha Round
The current WTO trade negotiation round, which was launched in November 2001 during a WTO Ministerial Conference in Doha, Qatar, has resulted in the formulation of the Doha Development Agenda. This negotiation round was intended to be completed in late 2004, but because the negotiations have not progressed smoothly, the decision process was still not finished as of mid-2011. The problems have been caused in part by differences of opinion between the most important developing countries and the developed countries, as well as differences of opinion between the EU and the US. The major stumbling block is the agriculture dossier.
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Agriculture and the WTO
The WTO negotiations have far-reaching consequences for agriculture, because the agreements do not only affect international trade but domestic agricultural policies as well. Of primary importance is domestic policy which may have an influence on international trade. Most of the criticism focuses on production subsidies, because they disturb the market.
Effects of new agreements
In both developed and developing countries, the entire agro-sector will directly or indirectly feel the effects of new agreements within the WTO. Exporters would benefit from freer trade policies because they would then be better able to access foreign markets, while producers in this situation would be unable to benefit from domestic subsidies and import restrictions. These are the kinds of factors which complicate the negotiations.
Recent LEI studies
You can find more relevant publications under the tab Publications & products
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Bilateral trade agreements
While the multilateral negotiations within the WTO regarding improving market access are stagnating, a number of countries are reaching bilateral trade agreements. For instance, the EU is working on free trade agreements with India, Singapore, Malaysia, Ukraine, and Mercosur. The EU is also entering into EPAs (Economic Partnership Agreements) with the ACP states. In addition, the EU has already entered into preferential trade agreements with a large number of developing countries which include agreements on the mutual trade of agricultural products.
Recent LEI studies
African regional trade: implications for food security (2011)
This report offers insight into intra-regional trade in Africa and the possible effects of regional integration agreements (RIAs) on trade in agricultural and food products and therefore on food security. The report focuses on Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Mozambique, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, and Sudan.
EU - India free trade agreement; A quantitative assessment (2008)
This is an analysis of the possible effects of a pending regional Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between the EU and India. Literature on FTAs is reviewed and the influence of a reduction in import tariffs on trade between the EU and India is examined.
Other relevant publications
You can find more relevant publications under the tab Publications & products
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