Businesses in Developing Countries can’t Afford to Ignore Global Trade Talks.
- Posted by JulieScott in Expert Blogs
- 2007, November 6th
Tag : agriculture, business, clothing, textile, trade
International trade agreements are reshaping national laws on where and how companies can trade. Whether we speak of agriculture, services, textiles and clothing, intellectual property or other topics, WTO agreements dominate the international trade arena. WTO member states — 148 so far — are even now refining a set of global trade rules.What’s more, bilateral and regional agreements add layers of complexity to the environment in whichbusiness has to make decisions.
Businesses in developing countries have not made their voice heard enough in the trade negotiations that lead to these rules. And often they are not satisfied with the results. Governments have sometimes agreed to trade rules that hinder their firms’ ability to do business. Their most important exports don’t reach enough foreign markets, while their local markets are open to competition for which they were not prepared.
Negotiators need the views of business. They have many policy options to assess and their teams are often small. It’s not easy to analyse the business implications of market access barriers, influence international standards or evaluate the impact of different trade proposals on exporters. Nor is it possible if business and government do not work together.
There has been little tradition of “business advocacy” in the South. As global trade talks continue to shape the business environment, exporters and governments in the developing world must learn to work with one another to improve market access and obtain special conditions for their firms.
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