Recherche économique et analyse des politiques commerciales
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Mercosur
MERCOSUR is one of the most important examples of renewed world-wide interest in regional trade agreements. It may be seen as a consolidation of unilateral reforms undertaken in conjunction with major macroeconomic adjustments. The paper reviews the objectives of MERCOSUR and assesses its achievements focusing on institutions and fulfilment of commitments. It concludes that considerable progress has been made to achieving a customs union and even beyond that towards a common (but not EU-style single) market but there are a number of areas where progress is still to be made.
National Treatment in the GATS
This paper is concerned with three problems in the interpretation of the national treatment obligation in the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS). First the precise domain of Article XVII on national treatment has not been clearly delineated particularly in relation to Article XVI dealing with market access. Secondly there is a difference between the text of Article XVII and the structure of the schedules of commitments which makes it difficult to interpret the scope of the national treatment obligation even for identical services supplied through different modes. The final and most complex problem arises in establishing the definition of "like" services and "like" service suppliers. Uncertainty about the precise meaning of the national treatment obligation may undermine the key GATS objective of creating a secure predictable trading environment. Moreover the extent of liberalization implied by the commitments under GATS depends on the precise choice of interpretation.
The New Liberalism
In the last ten years there has been a sea change in trade and related policies in emerging markets. This results from autonomous reforms undertaken in conjunction with macroeconomic stabilization programmes. Many non-tariff measures have been eliminated and tariffs now the principal trade instrument have been rationalized and reduced. Considerable increases in security of market access result from increased membership of the GATT/WTO system which itself underwent important changes as a result of the Uruguay Round further developed in the first Ministerial Meeting of the WTO in Singapore in December 1996. The systemic changes and the expansion of WTO membership to the transition and other economies mark a dramatic change in international economic relations.
Dealing with Monopolies and State Enterprises
The objective of this paper is to assess the adequacy of multilateral rules dealing with monopolies and state enterprises particularly in the domain of services. This paper argues that since these rules depend largely on the other obligations undertaken by Members a variety of exemptions and exclusions have weakened the rules considerably. Furthermore liberalization of services trade aided by negotiations under the GATS is leading to changes in market structure and the pattern of ownership. These changes imply that government-mandated monopolies or non-competing oligopolies are disappearing from the infrastructural services for which Article VIII of GATS is most relevant. The behaviour of dominant suppliers that often remain does not fall within the scope of Article VIII and has been addressed by creating other disciplines. The paper assesses how much emphasis needs to be placed on pro-competitive regulation to ensure competitive market conditions and argues that there is a need to strengthen Article VIII and widen its scope to deal with certain generic problems.
Covid-19 Reports
The WTO reports on COVID-19 and world trade provide detailed information on the impact of the pandemic on global trade
WTO Working Papers
WTO working papers usually represent research in progress. Such research may be conducted in the preparation of WTO Secretariat reports studies or other material for WTO members. The papers are circulated for comment because the WTO considers critical review of professional research to be extremely important.
World Trade Report
The "World Trade Report" is an annual publication that aims to deepen understanding about trends in trade trade policy issues and the multilateral trading system.