Agricultural Benefits Of Developing Members Under WTO Framework

The subject of this study is agriculture trade policy and interests of developing members under multilateral trading system.The paper mainly adopts the empirical research method and combination of quanlitative and quantitative analysisi in the research.Economic globalization is closely linking economies together across the globe, as a result, domestic economic stabilization in developing members is not completely determined by domestic elements, but greatly influenced by international elements. Developing members have been losers in the face of trade protectionism which is prevailing in current international trade. It's the worries to be marginalized during the process of economic globalization, and intent to safeguard economic interests among developing members that push them to opt for involvement in multilateral trading system, which is a forced choice. Developing members has always been the vulnerable side during the process of economic globalization, and agriculture is often the most vulnerable sector in developing members.Developing members are highly diversified with greatly different economic interests. Even developing members at the similar level of economic development, like Brazil, India, and China, have different concerns in agriculture trade. It's safe to say that multilateral trading system is not panacea for developing members. While multilateral trading system is based on rules which apply to every member, the seemingly fair rules that had been dominantly made by developed members, like U.S., often reflect largely the interests of developed members, and failed to generate fair opportunities for all members, not least developing members among them.The engagement of developing members in multilateral trading system negotiations and experience of Uruguay Round negotiations verifies its limit in creating welfare for developing members. The inherent defects in AOA per se, and the loopholes during negotiations as well as in implementation, helped shelter developed members from fulfillment of their obligations. The situation in developing members proved that gains in agriculture trade predominantly come from agriculture reform, which turns out to be the main drive for economic and trade development in developing members.The rationales for developing members to actively participate in regional trade integration are complex, hence the diverse implications on developing members, consequently, the existing problems rooted in agriculture sectors can not be solved in this way.Although trade dispute settlement provides a legal instrument against unfair trade protection by large trading countries, the capability constraints of developing members preclude them from making full use of this mechanism. In addition, developing members frequently fall victims to trade protection built up by developed members taking advantage of their technical resources in the form of TBT, IPR protection.Doha Round agriculture negotiation is to produce varied impacts on developing members. The expected effect of trade liberalization in economic development and poverty reduction is limited, international agriculture trade environment is not substantially improving as intended. Studies concluded China's agriculture is the sector to be most adversely impacted by trade liberalization. Based on simulations utilizing ATPSM of UNCTAD and G20 proposal in favor of developing members, China still turns out to gain the least among all members including developed members and developing members. Against the backdrop of high level of openness of agriculture market and possibility to open further, all-round enhancement of competitiveness of agriculture will be the optimal option.