RESOURCES

CAN THE TRADING SYSTEM BE GOVERNED? INSTITUTIONAL IMPLICATIONS OF THE WTO'S SUSPENDED ANIMATION. By Robert Wolfe. Centre for International Governance Innovation Working Paper No. 30, September 2007. Do the difficulties in reaching an agreement in the Doha round signal the need for institutional reform of the WTO? Members face great difficulty in undertaking needed renovations and new agreements through negotiations, even as the organization goes about its daily work as usual. This paper is structured by two hypotheses, that the way in which interests are aggregated changes outcomes; and that deliberation aids learning, which changes outcomes. The paper shows that WTO decision-making principles, dominated by the Single Undertaking and consensus , are essential given the nature of the membership and the political saliency of the issues, which has implications both for what is discussed (the agenda) and how (process). New rules apply to all, which means that voice for all Members matters. While exit is difficult, any Member can deny consensus, in principle if not in practice, which creates more roles for small groups and coalitions, and a common need for transparency. The paper concludes that procedural improvements by themselves will not solve intractable policy disagreements, but the lessons now being learned in the Doha Round on how to manage traditional negotiations involving many more Members within a changing global power structure might pay off in a subsequent round. Nevertheless the engagement of thousands of officials in the WTO process continues to shape collective management of the global trading system, even when revisions to the treaty prove elusive.

BETWEEN SAFETY AND COMMERCE: HOW SANITARY REGULATIONS AFFECT GLOBAL DAIRY TRADE. By Thom Achterbosch. International Food & Agricultural Trade Policy Council, August 2007. The issue brief argues that to maintain safety in dairy commerce, sanitary regulations that govern global dairy trade are necessary, but concedes that it is possible that these regulations may be used for protectionist purposes, and may hinder beneficial trade flows. The issue brief is reporting on an IPC study that surveyed top 20 companies in the industry and documented how increased sanitary regulations impacted trade. It concludes by arguing that costs can be lowered by reducing regulatory divergence and requesting the aid of global institutions. Internet: http://www.agritrade.org/Publications/IssueBriefs/between_safety_commerce_dairy.html

TOWARDS A DIGITAL AGENDA FOR DEVELOPING COUNTRIES. By Dalindyebo Shabalala. South Centre Research Paper 13, September 2007. This research paper analyses the implications of digital and internet content policy for access to knowledge in developing countries. It also puts forward recommendations for developing countries to fully enable Information and communication technologies (ICT) policy to deliver on the promise of more knowledge and information, especially for education. Internet: http://www.southcentre.org/publications/researchpapers/ResearchPapers13.pdf

GOVERNANCE AND ACCOUNTABLITY. By D.N. Ghosh. Oxford University Press, July 2007. This volume appraises the impact of globalisation on the state-market relationship, and discusses the experience of China and India. Divided into four sections, the essays in this volume discuss these issues in a historical and comparative perspective. Starting with China and India, who are grappling with the problems of growth in a globalizing economy; then there is an account of the culture that permeates the epicenter of the financial world, focusing on an apparent lack of concern for financial stability in the transition economies; followed by a section that deals with certain key regulatory and governance issues in the Indian financial system. The final section offers points on how corporate giants need to improve governance for better investor confidence and market transparency. Internet: http://www.oup.co.in/search_detail.php?id=144239#authordetails

TRADE NEGOTIATIONS INSIGHTS/ECLAIRAGE SUR LES NÉGOCIATIONS. The International Centre for Trade and Sustainable Development (ICTSD) has this week launched the new-look version of Trade Negotiations Insights and Eclairage sur les Négociations. Now monthly, these publications will feature more articles, news and analysis of the key ACP events relating to trade, development and regional integration. To subscribe, simply fill out the periodical subscription form online at http://www.ictsd.org/tni/index.htm or send an email to vhanson@ictsd.ch.