An Agenda for the Development Round of Trade Negotiations in the Aftermath of Cancun

This report by the Initiative for Policy Dialog is a broad critique of the post-Doha Development Round of trade, which Stiglitz argues does not truly represent the interests of developing countries. Stiglitz says that developing countries should receive special and differential treatment because they have been disadvantaged by unfair trade negotiations in the past, and because of the differences in their current circumstances. Rather than seeking reciprocal commitments from developing countries, Stiglitz urges developed countries to make unilateral concessions in more areas of the agenda. He details which reforms would deliver the largest gains to developing countries and, consequently, should be given highest priority in the Development Round. For * The agenda should contain proposals to facilitate the movement of unskilled labor and prioritize free trade in commodities and services that require unskilled labor.* There is an urgent need to address non-tariff barriers (NTB), which have taken on increasing importance as tariffs have come down.* The intellectual property provisions (TRIPS) need to be revised to begin to close the "knowledge gap" between rich and poor countries.* Trade should not trump development. Developing countries should not be forced to accept obligations which overly restrict their scope for active development policies.Joseph E. Stiglitz was awarded the Nobel Prize in economics in 2001 and is a University Professor at Columbia University. He was Chief Economist and Senior Vice-President of the World Bank from 1997-2000 and Chair of President Bill Clinton’s Council of Economic Advisors from 1995-97.