Accession to the WTO for developing countries. Strategies for gaining maximum benefits

Term Paper , 2019 , 37 Pages , Grade: A

Business economics - Trade and Distribution

The objective of this paper is to present a survey of trade issues in WTO membership from the perspective of developing countries putting Ethiopia in focus. Developing countries are a large percentage of the World Trade Organization (WTO) membership, in which Ethiopia is on process of acquiring membership. Trade liberalization may be unilateral, bilateral, sub-regional or multilateral. The end of the cold war has witnessed an increasingly growing wave of unilateral trade liberalization accompanied by a regulatory framework that facilitates and enhances the momentum. Although the impact of unilateral trade liberalization undertaken in many countries including Ethiopia deserves discussion, the theme of this article has necessitated focus on multilateral trade liberalization under the WTO system.

As LDC, Ethiopia is likely to be given some flexibility in assuming liberalization commitments. However, it will be asked to agree to some threshold of liberalization, and it is important for Ethiopia to be prepared to undertake commitments and develop a negotiation strategy that protects its interests. In addition, to respond effectively to the requests of WTO members, it is indispensable for the government of Ethiopia to have thorough information and analyze the potential consequences of liberalization. This term paper has three main parts in which the first part will discuss about trade liberalization with its justification and protectionism and its effects on economic development.

The second part of the paper will focus on the opportunities and challenges of WTO membership to developing countries. In this part the consequences of the WTO membership of the developing countries will be analyzed in terms of its benefits and harms. The third part of the paper deals with the necessary precautions the developing countries are required to take before joining the WTO. In this part, the role of the WTO in helping the developing countries not to be affected negatively by becoming a member; necessary development level countries are required to attain before joining the WTO; and necessary measures to be undertaken during negotiation process not to take a commitment which will be against the national interest of the country. The fourth part deals on the Ethiopia WTO accession and assess the experience of WTO accessed least developing countries. Finally, the conclusion and recommendation with lessen to Ethiopia addressed.

Contents

ABSTRACT

1. INTRODUCTION
1.1. Overview of Important Concepts
1.1.1. What is World Trade Organization (WTO)?
1.1.2. Developing Countries
1.2. The Justifications and Consequences of Protectionism and of the Trade Liberalization
1.2.1. Arguments Against Trade Liberalization: Protectionism
1.2.2. The Benefit of Trade Liberalization and Integration to International Trade Organizations

2. OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES OF WTO MEMBERSHIP
2.1. Opportunities of WTO Membership to Developing Countries in General
2.2. Specific Opportunities of Accession to WTO to the Developing Countries
2.2.1. Protection against Discriminatory Regulatory Measures
2.2.2. The Generalized System of Preferences (GSP)
2.2.3. Dispute Settlement
2.3. Challenges of WTO Membership to Developing Countries
2.4. Necessary Precautions Before Joining the WTO
2.4.1. The Role of the WTO in Economic Development in Developing Countries
2.4.2. The Level of Development Required to be Achieved Before Joining the WTO
2.5. The Necessary Precautions to Be Taken by Developing Countries During the Negotiation for Joining the WTO

3. WTO ACCESSION: ETHIOPIA’S PERSPECTIVE
3.1. Overview
3.2. Ethiopian accession so far
3.2.1. Preparation and Submission of the Memorandum on the Foreign-Trade Regime of Ethiopia
3.2.2. A Roadmap for Ethiopia's WTO Accession
3.2.3. The Diagnostic Trade Integration Study (DTIS)
3.2.4 Capacity-Building Activities
3.2.5. Impact-Assessment Studies
3.3. Challenges of WTO membership

4. EXPERIENCES OF LDCs ACCEDED TO THE WTO
4.1. Duration of Accession Process
4.2. Commitments of Acceded LDCs
4.2.1 Tariff Bindings in Trade in Goods
4.2.2. Transition Periods
4.2.3. Commitments on Trade in Services
4.2.4. Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS)
4.2.5. Special and Differential Treatment
4.3. Implementation of WTO Accession Commitments

CONCLUSION AND WAYS FORWARD: LESSONS FOR ETHIOPIA

REFERENCES

• College: Bahria University (School of Law)
• Grade: A
• Author: Tewachew Alem (Author)
• Publication Year: 2019
• Pages: 37
• Catalog Number: V510984
• ISBN (eBook): 9783346081377
• ISBN (Book): 9783346081384
• Language: English
• Tags: accession, strategies, developing countries, WTO