South Asia And Multilateral Trade Regime

Contents Include : Multilateral Trade And Food Security In The South Asian Quadrangle; Multilateral Agricultural Trade And The Us Farm Policies; Impact Of Multilateral Trade On Dairy Commodity Markets In Ldcs; Embedding Local Development To Global Markets; Dilemma Of South Asian Monetary Integration; Towards A Competitive Electricity Market In The South Asia; Understanding Global Oil Market For Development Implications In South Asia; Wto And The Global Oil Markets; Annexures.

South Asia, With Its Large Population, Has Emerged As An Important Player In The Wto And The Current Negotiations Under The Doha Round. Nevertheless, The Countries In The Region Face A Formidable Challenge In Analyzing And Synthesizing Proposals And Submissions Made By Other Wto Members. This Book Is Useful For Academics, Policy Makers, Civil Society Activists, Undergraduate Students Of Development Economics And Anyone With An Interest In The Wto Vis-A-Vis South Asia.

Wto Is Seen Largely As A Symbol Of North-South Conflict, Due To Divergent Perceptions Of The Developed And Developing Countries On The Multilateral Trading System. This North-South Divide Is Reflected In Their Ministerial Negotiations Where The Rich Countries Try To Impinge Their Ultimate Authority Over The Global Economy Leaving Thus Limited Options To The Poor Countries To Defend Their Economic Space, Notwithstanding The Fact That The Developing Countries Account For Nearly 80 Percent Of Wto Membership. There Is Now A Growing Concern Among The South Asian Countries, Including The Four Least-Developed Countries On The Restrictions Imposed By The Developed Countries In The Form Of New Clauses In The Wto Framework. The Initiation Of Liberalization In These Countries In The Early 1990S Did Not Improve The Trade Prospects Significantly. South Asian Countries In General And India In Particular Is Now Taking Keen Interest In Cooperating With The Fellow Developing Countries And Championing Their Cause At The International Fora. This Volume Attempts To Examine The Different Facets Of Implications Of Wto On South Asia, Viz., Trade Cooperation For Development And Poverty Alleviation; Agriculture; Singapore Issues; Health And Intellectual Property Rights; And China S Accession Into Wto And Other Related Issues. It Emphasizes The Stand Of South Asian Countries To Safeguard Their Trade Prospects By Protecting From The Restrictions, Imposed By The Developed Countries In Several Clauses Under Different Agreements Of Wto. It Is Hoped That This Volume Will Become An Important Addition To The Existing Literature On Wto, As It Covers The Adverse Affect Of Wto On South Asia Which Has So Far Not Been Analyzed Exhaustively.

This book examines how bilateralism and multilateralism serve as cornerstones in bringing countries together to enhance regional cooperation. It explores the unfolding dynamics of bilateral and multilateral relationships in South Asia and looks at how factors like the absence of shared identities or common threats from external sources, a lack of trust, and suspicion are manifesting as obstacles for regional cooperation. With case studies from various constituent countries, the volume studies themes such as economic cooperation in South Asia, connections through sub-regional initiatives, migration and refugee problems in the region, SAARC and terrorism, the Pashtun factor in Afghanistan–Pakistan relations, India’s interests in ASEAN and BIMSTEC, the nuclear dynamics of India–Pakistan relations, India–Bangladesh connectivity issues, Sri Lanka as a troubled island nation, and Afghanistan’s relations with the Kashmir Valley. It discusses the implications of these long-standing issues that have stood as impediments to regional cooperation and bringing new perspectives to enable greater understanding and probable solutions. A comprehensive and accessible volume, it will be useful for scholars and researchers of international relations, international trade, South Asian studies, SAARC, regional development, international and multilateral trade, political studies, geo-politics, strategic and defence studies, and peace and conflict resolution.

Trade has played a critical role in global poverty reduction. In harnessing the potential of trade, some of the most successful countries have developed strong trade relationships with their neighbors. However, many South Asian countries have trade regimes that often offset the positive impact of geography and proximity. This report documents systematically the gaps between current and potential trade in South Asia and addresses important specific barriers that have held trade back. These barriers include tariffs and paratariffs, real and perceived nontariff barriers, connectivity costs, and the broader trust deficit. This policy-focused report unpacks these critical barriers to effective trade integration in South Asia through four in-depth studies that produce new, detailed, on-the-ground knowledge. Three of the studies are based on extensive stakeholder consultations. Two also rely on tailored surveys. The fourth study, on tariffs, benefits from new data on paratariffs. The report also marshals new evidence showing how trading regimes in South Asia discriminate against each other. Given the South Asian context, incremental, yet concrete steps aimed at tapping the potential of deeper integration are appropriate. The report has been drafted in this spirit. It offers precise, actionable policy recommendations that could help achieve measurable progress in key areas of trade and integration that would be to the advantage of all countries in the region.

This book is aimed at researchers and students at graduate and post-graduate level in the field of economics and international trade. The book is written against the backdrop of sluggish progress of multilateral trade negotiations under the framework of the World Trade Organization (WTO) regime which has provided impetus to the signing of regional/bilateral trade agreements the world over. This book examines the prospects and impact of regional economic cooperation in the South Asia region using various approaches; and focuses specifically on the South Asian Free Trade Agreement (SAFTA). The book also includes special studies on Indian industries: pharmaceuticals, textiles and clothing, and traditional (id est lock, brassware and glassware) industries in north India. Provides a detailed analysis of the prospects and impact of regional economic cooperation in South Asia through alternative approaches Draws on the author's rich experience in the field of economics and trade to assess the prospects and impact of RTA/FTA Contributions are presented from highly knowledgeable and rich experienced researchers in the field.

Preferential Trade Arrangements (PTAs) are proliferating exponentially. A considerable portion of global trade now takes place on preferential terms. In a similar vein, eight member countries (Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka) of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) have recently concluded the Agreement on South Asian Free Trade Area (SAFTA) and the SAARC Agreement on Trade in Services (SATIS). The progress of sub-regional trade cooperation in South Asia to date appears to be rather lacklustre. This thesis analyses the state of intra-SAARC trade cooperation from its inception; examines whether sub-regional free trade is beneficial for them in economic terms; tests the WTO compliance of the sub-regional PTAs under the auspices of the SAARC; identifies some major hindrances to further advancement of these sub-regional PTAs; and suggests possible ways to overcome or minimise these impediments in order to render the SAFTA and SATIS structurally operational, economically beneficial and legally subsumable in the WTO disciplines. -- This thesis critically analyses the text and context of the PTAs concluded under the auspices of the SAARC. It draws on the experience of comparable plurilateral PTAs in other parts of the globe to identify ways of strengthening the SAFTA and SATIS. The PTAs are international treaties and six of the eight contracting parties of the SAFTA are members of the World Trade Organization (WTO). Therefore, it is their legal obligation to ensure that their PTAs comply with the relevant rules of the WTO. This thesis critically examines the WTO rules on PTAs and assesses to what extent the PTAs under the auspices of the SAARC comply with those rules. It recommends a number of amendments to the PTAs concluded under the auspices of the SAARC that would engender greater inter-connectedness among the SAARC economies. No comprehensive analysis of the PTAs can overlook the wider debate regarding the motivations for PTAs, their strengths, weaknesses and impact on the multilateral trading system. This thesis presents a politico-economic critique of these issues in the context of South Asian PTAs with a view to rendering them complimentary to the WTO multilateral trade liberalisation regime. -- As with many other international trade agreements, the SAARC PTAs manifest legal, economic, political and historical undertones and overtones which cannot be captured in a black letter legal study. These diverse issues have necessitated that this thesis adopts an inter-disciplinary approach with a distinct focus on legal rules and norms. It aspires to make a contribution to the greater economic integration among SAARC members. There are surmountable politico-economic constraints to be overcome in achieving greater trade-induced economic integration of SAARC members' economies, largely attributable to certain policies and mindsets that can be addressed through sustained political commitment and economic collaboration in the pursuit of establishing a more functional free trading area in South Asia. The findings of the thesis should also have appeal to the sub-regional PTAs among developing countries and least developed countries (LDCs) in other parts of the world.

In this large-scale ISEAS study, Razeen Sally looks at Southeast Asia in the World Trade Organization, against the background of national trade policy trends post-Asian crisis, sluggish ASEAN economic integration, and the recent high-speed proliferation of bilateral and regional trade negotiations. ASEAN co-operation in the WTO has broken down, with little prospect of revival. Nevertheless, Sally argues forcefully that Southeast Asia needs a liberal, rules-based multilateral trading system; and that the WTO needs active Southeast Asian participation. ASEAN countries should forge multiple coalitions, revolving around the United States and China, to restore workability and purpose to a lame, crisis-ravaged WTO. This would provide headwind for what matters most: unilateral (national) trade-and-investment liberalization and pro-competitive regulatory reforms to revive and enhance policy competitiveness in the region.

The Asia-Pacific region has witnessed a rapid rise in bilateral preferential trade agreements at the beginning of the twenty-first century. This trend could have potentially dramatic effects on the trading patterns of countries in the transpacific region and beyond. Some argue that these accords will spur multilateral negotiations, while others believe that they will irreparably damage the trading system. Bilateral Trade Agreements in the Asia-Pacific examines the underlying political and economic factors driving these accords, based on a novel theoretical framework. Experts then provide overviews of political and economic trends in the region as well as detailed analysis of the trade strategies of Japan, China, Singapore, South Korea, Malaysia, Taiwan, Thailand, the United States and Mexico. By systematically evaluating and assessing the driving forces underlying the turn to bilateral trade agreements in the Asia-Pacific, this book provides the first comprehensive analysis of this crucial phenomenon. Growing numbers of countries both in the region and elsewhere in the world are now considering further negotiation of bilateral trade accords. Understanding how these arrangements will fit or conflict with existing institutions in the Asia-Pacific and the WTO makes this book imperative reading for policy-makers and scholars.

How can international trade agreements promote development and how can rules be designed to benefit poor countries? Can multilateral trade cooperation in the World Trade Organization (WTO) help developing countries create and strengthen institutions and regulatory regimes that will enhance the gains from trade and integration into the global economy? And should this even be done? These are questions that confront policy makers and citizens in both rich and poor countries, and they are the subject of Economic Development and Multilateral Trade Cooperation. This book analyzes how the trading system could be made more supportive of economic development, without eroding the core WTO functions.