Negotiations to liberalize trade pose real challenges for developing countries. Good agreements can do much to promote development and poverty reduction, but good outcomes are not automatic. A new publication from the World Bank,   Trade, Doha and Development – A Window into the Issues features essays on the key issues in making trade agreements work for development.

           
It provides short, fact-filled analyses of the main elements of the Doha Development Agenda, regional trade negotiations, and the “aid for trade” debate. “Particularly important in the upcoming negotiations in Hong Kong is progress towards real movement on agriculture and, specifically, market access,” said Uri Dadush,    Director of the World Bank’s Trade Department, “because this holds the key that could unlock the development promise of the Doha Round.  The poor live mainly in rural areas, and providing developing countries with access for their agricultural products to markets in rich countries and in other developing countries is essential to raising living standards.   At present some of the proposals do not go far enough in slashing existing protection.”   The book presents an analysis of what is needed for developing countries to gain from a Doha package on agriculture, services and manufactures.

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