Institute for International Trade

2024 IIT update No.1

POLICY & ENGAGEMENT 

The World Trade Organization’s 13^th Ministerial Conference will take place in Abu Dhabi, February 26-29.

While it will encompass various negotiations, it is being billed as the reform Ministerial. Conceptions of what should be reformed are varied, and contested. One broad area concerns “special and differential treatment” of developing countries in the system. Put simply should, say, India qualify for favourable treatment (less onerous concessions) to the same extent as, say, Tanzania? The issues are complex, and highly politically charged.

In our latest IIT Policy Brief Aniekan Ukpe and Clara Weinhardt provide a thoughtful set of proposals for reforming how SDT is approached.

This is the latest contribution to our series on reforming the treatment of developing countries in the WTO, further details on which can be found here.

While you’re about it, take a look at the India Think20 Policy Brief Professor Peter Draper contributed to, in which the authors consider how the WTO system can better accommodate the needs of developing countries.

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

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.

Don’t forget to subscribe to our IIT-ACITI Trade Policy Decoded podcast, for analysis and opinions on where the trade policy world is moving, from an Australian/Indo-Pacific perspective. Episode 2 focused on the WTO.

The IIT is hiring!

We are looking for a Level B international trade/economics person.

This is a great opportunity to contribute to a dynamic team, encompassing trade policy teaching, commissioned research, outreach and engagement, and academic research.

Applicants must have Australian work rights