World Trade Organization
The Future of World Trade
IPN Opinion article
IPN's Executive Director, Julian Morris, writes about the future of world trade,
"It is time to rethink how multilateral liberalization proceeds. Since the WTO does a good job of administering the agreements within its ambit, it might be best to limit its role to such administrative tasks. The failure of its recent Ministerial meetings means that multilateral liberalization is, in any case, slipping out of its grasp. Instead we are witnessing an explosion of bilateral and regional agreements, as countries seek other ways of pressing forward with trade liberalization."
Suits and ties demonstrate on opposite side of divide
IPN Opinion article
The Guardian writes about the Freedom to Trade demonstration in Hong Kong at the World Trade Organization meeting.
‘Trade Barriers Are Immoral; Free Trade Could End Poverty' says author of new report
IPN Press release
A Decade of WTO
IPN Opinion article
Discusses Looking Back to Look Beyond, a new book by Bibek Debroy and Mohammed Saqib: "Julian Morris raises the subject of environmental protection, including the rather dubious conceptualisation of the trade-environment nexus by certain environment groups, as well as the desire of certain eco-extremist organisations to push an anti-trade agenda. "
Curse of Unfair Trade
IPN Opinion article
Fredrik Erixon, chief economist of the Swedish think-tank Timbro, argues that Western aid has "largely been counterproductive" for half a century. In a devastating critique of the billions of pounds that have poured into Africa since independence, he said: "It has crowded out private sector investments, undermined democracy and enabled despots to continue with oppressive policies, perpetuating poverty."
Biosafety Protocol Will Harm Poor Farmers and Undermines WTO
IPN Opinion article
The Global Freedom to Trade Campaign, a coalition of pro-globalization NGOs at the Cancun WTO Ministerial, believes that the Biosafety Protocol, which comes into effect today, will harm poor farmers.
