Backwaters of global prosperity: how forces of globalization and GATT/WTO trade regimes contribute to the marginalization of the world's poorest nations

220 Pages·2004·11.548 MB·English

by  Accord général sur les tarifs douaniers et le commerce;Organisation mondiale du commerce;World Trade Organization;Dowlah, C. A. F

Backwaters of Global
Prosperity
Caf Dowlah
PRAEGER
Backwaters of
Global Prosperity
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BACKWATERS OF
GLOBAL PROSPERITY
How Forces of Globalization and
GATT/WTO Trade Regimes
Contribute to the Marginalization
of the World's Poorest Nations
CafDowlah
PPABGER Westport, Connecticut
London
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Dowlah, C. A. F.
Backwaters of global prosperity : how forces of globalization and GATTAVTO trade
regimes contribute to the marginalization of the world's poorest nations / Caf
Dowlah.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 0-275-98043-X (alk. paper)
1. Free trade—Developing countries. 2. Developing countries—Economic conditions.
3. Globalization—Economic aspects—Developing countries. 4. Developing countries—
Dependency on foreign countries. 5. World Trade Organization—Developing
countries. 6. General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (Organization) I. Title.
HF2580.9.D68 2004
382'.09172'4—dc22 2004011890
British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data is available.
Copyright © 2004 by Caf Dowlah
All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be
reproduced, by any process or technique, without the
express written consent of the publisher.
Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 2004011890
ISBN: 0-275-98043-X
First published in 2004
Praeger Publishers, 88 Post Road West, Westport, CT 06881
An imprint of Greenwood Publishing Group, Inc.
www.praeger.com
Printed in the United States of America
The paper used in this book complies with the
Permanent Paper Standard issued by the National
Information Standards Organization (Z39.48-1984).
10 9876543
Globalization has brought forth unprecedented prosperity to the contemporary
world economy, but it has not raised all boats. By all indications, global pros
perity has bypassed more than one-tenth of the world population who live in
the poorest countries, which I call backwaters of global prosperity. This book
is dedicated to those who find this trend disturbing, and unbecoming of hu
mankind in the New Millennium.
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Contents
Tables ix
Preface xiii
Abbreviations and Acronyms xv
Introduction 1
1. The State of the LDCs: How Marginalized Are They
in the Contemporary World Economy? 11
2. Multilateral Trade Regimes under the GATTAVTO: How
Do They Contribute to Marginalization of the LDCs? 29
3. Special and Differential Treatment Measures under the
GATTAVTO: How Advantageous Are They for the
Development of the LDCs? 51
4. The GATTAVTO Trade Regimes: How Has Lackluster
Liberalization of the Textiles and Clothing Sector
Restrained Economic Growth of the LDCs? 77
5. The GATTAVTO Trade Regimes: How Lack of
Liberalization of the Agricultural Sector Impedes
Growth of the LDCs 107
Vlll Contents
6. The WTO and the LDCs: How Conducive Is the WTO
Platform for Safeguarding and Promoting the
Interests of the LDCs? 137
Conclusion 165
References 173
Index 191
Tables
1.1. Least Developed Countries, 1971-2003 12
1.2. Basic Socioeconomic and Political Parameters of the
Least Developed Countries, 2002-2004 14
1.3. Real GDP and per Capita GDP Growth Rate of Least
Developed Countries, 1980-1990 versus 1990-1998 17
1.4. Merchandise Exports of Least Developed Countries by
Selected Country Groups, 1990-2001 18
1.5. Structure and Performance of World Industry,
Selected Indicators, 1980-2000 19
1.6. Flow of Official Development Assistance and the LDCs 20
1.7. FDI Inflows into LDCs by Group of LDCs, 1997-2000
(US$ Millions, Percentages Share in Parentheses) 21
1.8. Poverty Trends in LDCs, 1965-1999 (1985 PPP US$1) 23
1.9. Ten Indicators of Marginalization of the LDCs 25
1.10. Structure and Protection in Quad Countries Facing
LDC Exports, 1999 (in Percentages) 26