Unity in diversity: governance adaptation in multilateral trade institutions through South-South coalition building

This paper from the South Centre is concerned with the widening development gap in the setting of new international policy regimes and a changing global economic environment. Global income inequality matters for economic and social stability but also it affects how global economic governance structures function. The report discusses participation and developing country governance adaptation issues in the WTO and in the UN Conference on Trade and development (UNCTAD).

It concludes that developing country group action should be an essential component in global trade governance. Experiences in WTO and UNCTAD show that influencing governance to be inclusive will require the following:

• clear policy issue and agenda articulation from shared understanding
• institutionalised coordination and group leadership mechanisms
• good working relationships between individual country delegates and other developing country delegates
• full and continuous institutional support of high professional quality

The need for collective and group action by developing countries is more urgent in today’s climate for a number of reasons, including:

• the greater weight and importance of the world economy
• the increasing complexity and scope of the development process
• the continued efforts of developed countries to dominate multilateral processes, institutions and outcomes