Developed country trade barriers and the least developed countries: The economic results of freeing trade

Arbeitspapier

The Doha Ministerial Declaration emphasized that priority should be given to improving market access for products originating in the Least Developed Countries (LDCs). In this paper, we analyze the importance of this proposition with respect to market access in the Triad economies. We first present a brief history of non-reciprocal preferences granted by the Triad. This covers Generalized System of Preference (GSP) programmes in each, and further preferences granted to African, Caribbean and Pacific countries by the EU and preferences granted to Caribbean Basin, Andean, and African countries by the US. This history is followed by an assessment of trade generated by these preferences in the year 2000, and of the extent to which LDC exports might be expected to increase should the preferences be made comprehensive. Preferences in 2000 are shown to have led to an increase of US$3.5 billion in LDC exports, while a complete duty-free treatment could expand LDC exports by as much as US$7.6 billion, 90 per cent of which will be absorbed by the US. As this represents a doubling of LDC exports to these countries, we interpret these results as an endorsement of this priority in the Doha Round of negotiations.

Object Details

• ISBN: 9291904791
• Language: Englisch

References and Relationships

• Bibliographic citation: Series: WIDER Discussion Paper ; No. 2003/46

Classification and Topics

• Classification: Wirtschaft ; Trade Policy; International Trade Organizations ; Empirical Studies of Trade ; Trade: Forecasting and Simulation
• Subject: Least Developed Countries ; Generalized System of Preferences ; Doha Round ; Internationale Handelspolitik ; Zollpräferenz ; Vierte Welt

Contributors, Places and Time

• Event: Geistige Schöpfung
• (who): Haveman, Jon D. ; Shatz, Howard J.
• Event: Veröffentlichung
• (who): The United Nations University World Institute for Development Economics Research (UNU-WIDER)
• (where): Helsinki
• (when): 2003

Further information

• Handle: http://hdl.handle.net/10419/53093
• Last update: 10.03.2025, 11:46 AM CET