Authors: Richard Baldwin and Simon Evenett, Vox EU

The world trade system is at an historical fork: WTO members must make a choice.

Key decisions will be taken in discussions that start with the 29th April 2011 meeting of the Doha Round’s steering committee and that will continue for the coming weeks (assuming that this Friday’s meeting avoids an acrimonious breakdown). Read more…

Author: Simon J. Evenett, University of St. Gallen

The third report of the Global Trade Alert (GTA)contains five analyses. Firstly, the latest assessment of protectionist dynamics. Secondly, a focus on the Asia-Pacific region with an assessment of who is imposing what forms of protectionism in the region and which nations are getting hurt by crisis-era protectionism. Thirdly, an analysis showing the differential impact of crisis-era beggar-thy-neighbour policies on the exports of the leading sectors of the Japanese economy. Fourthly, a comparison between the products and trading partners targeted by anti-dumping investigations before and during the crisis. Finally, accounts of the impact of the crisis on the trade policy priorities of China, India, and Russia.

The central finding of the report is that while many economies may have turned the corner in the second half of the year, protectionist pressures have not relented. Read more…