Bridges Africa | How can LDCs harness trade for structural transformation?
Since the 1970’s, the United Nations has identified Least Developed Countries LDCs as states which, for reasons of very low income, poor human development, and high economic vulnerability, face more structural handicaps than other countries in rising out of poverty. The increased focus on LDCs challenges, however, has not been matched by solutions. In the [...]
Bridges Weekly | UK Prime Minister Calls for “No Exceptions” in EU-US Trade Talks
All items should be on the negotiating table when the EU and US kick off their highly-anticipated trade talks this summer, UK Prime Minister David Cameron said this week following a meeting with US President Barack Obama, in comments that highlighted the growing debate within the EU bloc over how certain trade topics should be [...]
Passerelles | L’Afrique: La prochaine usine du monde?
Le « discours » sur les chaînes de valeur mondiales (CVM) est contesté au regard des inquiétudes soulevées par certains. Il serait en effet développé dans le but de fournir aux pays développés des arguments pour contourner le Cycle de Doha à l’OMC, et imposer un agenda de la libéralisation peu judicieux aux pays en développement (1). D’autres, [...]
New Study | Agricultural Domestic Support and Sustainable Development in China
by Ni Hongxing
China’s fast-growing farm subsidies have generated new interest in whether these programmes can help achieve public policy goals, without distorting trade and production. This study, by NI Hongxing, finds that agricultural support could help boost low rural incomes and tackle food insecurity, but calls for more attention to be paid to environmental sustainability. It [...]
Bridges Weekly | WTO Members Choose Brazil’s Azevêdo as Next Director-General
Roberto Carvalho de Azevêdo has won the position of WTO Director-General, officials announced earlier today, beating out Mexico’s Herminio Blanco for the high-profile role. Azevêdo will be the organisation’s first chief from Latin America and only the second in its short history from a developing country.
The news was presented to WTO members by General Council [...]