World Trade Organisation
Introduction
Since the formation of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) in 1995, members have been implementing the various agreements following the conclusion of the Uruguay Round of multilateral trade negotiations (MTNs). The effects of that process of policy reforms have been the subject of numerous CIES studies, as have ex ante analyses of reform options under consideration in the current Doha Round.
As well, dozens of developing and formerly centrally planned economies have been seeking WTO membership. The process of WTO accession is complex, and typically involves major trade policy reforms affecting all sectors of the economy. Many trade-related policies, including those affecting services, foreign investment and intellectual property, also must become WTO-consistent. Assisting that process through post-graduate training of trade officials from such countries, and through reports on the need to join, the steps involved, and the likely consequences of the reforms required for accession, have been another feature of CIES activities since the mid-1990s.
The increasing influence of the WTO in globalizing the world’s economies has increased interest in learning about the genesis of the modern global trading system, the core rules and disciplines, their exceptions, and the new issues confronting the WTO. To that end Kym Anderson and Bernard Hoekman put together a 4-volume set of readings on those topics that was published by I.B. Taurus, London in 2002. They have also edited a new series of volumes of readings entitled Critical Perspectives on the World Trading System, published by Edward Elgar Publishers. In addition, the ever-popular Dictionary of Trade Policy Terms, compiled by Walter Goode and first published by CIES in 1997, is now in its 5th edition.
The Program Co-ordinator is Professor Kym Anderson. Comments about the program are welcome, as are possibilities for research collaboration.
