WTO and agriculture
Why WTO agricultural reforms are such a good idea – but such a hard sell
Inherent problems with the Doha round
Authors:
T. Hertel; R. Keeney; L.A. Winters
Publisher:
Vox, 2007
The multilateral trade negotiations of the WTO’s Doha Development Agenda appear once more to be on the brink of collapse. This article asks why agriculture, a sector that contributes so little to rich countries’ economies, should be able to sabotage global economy-wide trade talks. It outlines powerful incentives in developed countries that impede engagement in significant agricultural reforms.
Authors also examine the likely impact of developing country agricultural trade reforms on extreme poverty in a sample of 15 developing countries. Findings suggest that developing country poverty could be reduced by liberalising both industrial and developing countries’ agricultural trade.
