Wto after Seattle

The WTO after Seattle analyzes the problems and challenges facing the trading system in the aftermath of the Seattle ministerial. Leading trade experts examine why it is in the interests of both developed and developing countries to reengage in new trade talks, and how such talks could promote world trade and economic development, reform WTO operations, and strengthen public support for the trading system. The volume presents balanced perspectives on world trade problems by authors from the United States, Europe, Asia, and Latin America, with recommendations on what needs to be done in key areas to launch new talks. The authors address the WTO's existing mandate to negotiate on agriculture and services, as well as how to handle new issues such as investment, competition policy, e-commerce, and trade-related environmental and labor issues. The editor, Jeffrey J. Schott, provides a comprehensive overview of the issues facing the WTO and of what needs to be done to begin a new round.

The failure of the Seattle trade ministerial in December 1999 to launch a new round of multilateral trade negotiations dealt a major blow to the World Trade Organization (WTO). The Seattle meetings exposed significant policy differences among the WTO member countries as well as shortcomings in the manner in which the WTO conducts its business and interacts with other international and nongovernmental organizations.

The WTO after Seattle analyzes the problems and challenges facing the trading system in the aftermath of the Seattle ministerial. Leading trade experts examine why it is in the interests of both developed and developing countries to reengage in new trade talks, and how such talks could promote world trade and economic development, reform WTO operations, and strengthen public support for the trading system. The volume presents balanced perspectives on world trade problems by authors from the United States, Europe, Asia, and Latin America, with recommendations on what needs to be done in key areas to launch new talks.

The authors address the WTO's existing mandate to negotiate on agriculture and services, as well as how to handle new issues such as investment, competition policy, e-commerce, and trade-related environmental and labor issues. The editor, Jeffrey J. Schott, provides a comprehensive overview of the issues before the WTO and what needs to be done to begin a new round.

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Sharing some protest fallout from the December 1999 World Trade Organization Seattle meeting, the Institute for International Economics conference produced these 18 views on major trading nations' interests and WTO agenda issues. Economist Schott argues for an improved system of global governance. Lacks an index. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Jeffrey J. Schott, Senior Fellow, was a Senior Associate at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (1982-83) and an International Economist at the US Treasury (1974- 82). He is the author, coauthor, or editor of several books on the trading system, including Launching New Global Trade Talks: An Action Agenda (1998), Restarting Fast Track (1998), The World Trading System: Challenges Ahead (1996), The Uruguay Round: An Assessment (1994), Western Hemisphere Economic Integration (1994), NAFTA: An Assessment (rev. ed. 1993), North American Free Trade: Issues and Recommendations (1992), Completing the Uruguay Round: A Results-Oriented Approach to the GATT Trade Negotiations (1990), Free Trade Areas and U.S. Trade Policy (1989), The Canada-United States Free Trade Agreement: The Global Impact (1988), Auction Quotas and United States Trade Policy (1987), and Trading for Growth: The Next Round of Trade Negotiations (1985).