July 22, 2009 – “Trade policy commitments and
contingency measures” is the theme of this year's WTO World Trade Report. The report examines the range of contingency
measures (measures that allow governments a certain degree of flexibility within their trade commitments) and the role that these measures
play.
One of the main objectives of this report is to analyze whether WTO
provisions provide a balance between supplying governments with
necessary flexibility to face difficult economic situations and
adequately defining them in a way that limits their use for
protectionist purposes.
In analyzing this question, the report focuses
primarily on contingency measures available to WTO members when
importing and exporting goods. These measures include the use of
safeguards, such as tariffs and quotas, in specified circumstances,
anti-dumping duties on goods that are deemed to be “dumped”, and
countervailing duties imposed to offset subsidies.
The report also
discusses alternative policy options, including the renegotiation of
tariff commitments, the use of export taxes, and increases in tariffs up
to their legal maximum ceiling or binding. The analysis includes
consideration of legal, economic and political economy factors that
influence the use of these measures and their associated benefits and
costs.
To download a pdf copy of the 2009 World Trade Report, click here .
Print this page
