Tackling Corruption in the Trading System through a Culture of Integrity
Fostering a culture of public integrity – and anti corruption – in global trade requires concrete steps to ensure the rule of law is enforced.
Fostering a culture of public integrity – and anti corruption – in global trade requires concrete steps to ensure the rule of law is enforced.
Existing global trade rules aren’t enough to mitigate the impact of internet censorship in China. Firms increasingly must choose between protecting freedom of expression or their market access.
U.S. leadership in the World Trade Organization (WTO) could serve as a counterbalance to China’s growing influence. But a new poll from TradeVistas shows that first, Americans need to know why they should care about the WTO.
As World Trade Organization (WTO) members reform the global trading system, they should carry a renewed commitment to its future and a renewed vision to match that of its founders. We’ve come to rely on the WTO yet rarely stop to appreciate it. As evidenced by the results of a July 2020 TradeVistas poll, the public has very little understanding of the institution’s role.
The fundamental goal of any trade agreement is to promote and undergird government adherence to rule of law, which in turn enables private economic activity to thrive. When coupled with commitments to market access, individuals and companies are free to do business anywhere in the world.
With all the focus on tariffs these days, it is easy to overlook the return of another tool used to limit imports: quotas. Both quotas and tariffs are used to protect domestic industries by artificially raising prices in the domestic market. Their administration and effects, however, differ in specific ways.
After a decade of steady increase, the volume of arms trade by 2012 had reached levels not seen since the end of the Cold War. Trade in conventional arms and dual-use goods and technologies is regulated through policies that include government defense procurement regulations, national export control licensing regimes and embargoes.
Sand is a critical component in many of the products we depend on every day. Demand for sand is expected to increase in the coming years, especially in developing countries faced with increasing populations, urbanization and economic growth. But despite its importance worldwide, sand is one of the least regulated resources today.
As rallying calls of “Trade for All” and economic inclusion reverberate throughout national trade agendas, international forums, and across trade negotiation tables, here’s a closer look at trade and gender issues, how trade agreements of the past have addressed them, and how a new generation of trade and gender chapters aim to change the narrative.
The concept of creating a generalized, non-reciprocal system of preferences for developing countries dates back to 1968. But enabling legitimate forms of discrimination has predictably had positive and negative consequences and there’s little economic data to demonstrate the programs have accrued significant benefits.