Loading

Establishing a Consensus on Development: On G20-Led WTO Reforms

Pradeep S. Mehta (CUTS International), Sneha Singh (Faculty of Law), Badri Narayanan Gopalakrishnan (National Council for Applied Economic Research and Centre for Social and Economic Progress), Peter Draper (Institute for International Trade, University of Adelaide), Hamid Mamdouh (King & Spalding), Heribert Dieter (German Institute for International and Security Affairs)
This Policy Brief was first published in https://t20ind.org

Abstract

The preamble to the agreement establishing the World Trade Organization (WTO) recognises the need for developing countries to ensure they can “secure a share in international trade commensurate with the needs of their economic development.” The WTO’s built-in agenda was designed against this backdrop; however, its partial and unsatisfactory fulfilment has led to increasing frustration among developing countries. There is a crucial need to undertake a comprehensive review of the systemic issues plaguing the WTO’s rulemaking, implementation, and dispute-settlement functions to identify the issues that are stilting prospects of trade and development in developing countries. This will offer evidence-based and pragmatic compromises to reinvigorate and possibly institutionalise a development-oriented approach in the WTO’s functioning. India’s G20 presidency offers an opportunity to drive reformatory interventions for a development- friendly WTO and enable further tangible benefits from the special and differential treatment provisions to which developing countries are entitled.

Authors

Pradeep S. Mehta (CUTS International), Sneha Singh (Faculty of Law), Badri Narayanan Gopalakrishnan (National Council for Applied Economic Research and Centre for Social and Economic Progress), Peter Draper (Institute for International Trade, University of Adelaide), Hamid Mamdouh (King & Spalding), Heribert Dieter (German Institute for International and Security Affairs)

Latest Policy Briefs

Register for Updates

Would you like to receive updates on the Global Solutions Initiative, upcoming events, G7 and G20-related developments and the future of multilateralism? Then subscribe here!

1 You hereby agree that the personal data provided may be used for the purpose of updates on the Global Solutions Initiative by the Global Solutions Initiative Foundation gemeinnützige GmbH. Your consent is revocable at any time (by e-mail to contact@global-solutions-initiative.org or to the contact data given in the imprint). The update is sent in accordance with the privacy policy and to advertise the Global Solutions Initiative’s own products and services.