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Should Credit be Given for Autonomous Liberalization in Multilateral Trade Negotiations?

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  • Mattoo, Aaditya
  • Olarreaga, Marcelo
Abstract
As each new round of multilateral trade negotiations approaches, there is a demand for a negotiating rule that would give credit for autonomous liberalization. This Paper shows that the desirability and feasibility of such a rule depends on when it is instituted. A credit rule established at the beginning of a round of negotiations has primarily a distributional effect, favouring those who have already undertaken liberalization. The implementation of such a rule relies on the generosity of those who have not liberalized. We propose instead the establishment of a credit rule at the end of a round of negotiations, which creates an ex ante assurance that any unilateral liberalization will receive credit in the next round. Such a rule would help induce and/or enhance liberalization between negotiating rounds by reducing the gains from retaining protection as negotiating currency. Moreover, it leads to lower intertemporal average protection in all countries under plausible conditions. Most importantly, such an ex ante rule does not rely on altruism to be generally acceptable.

Suggested Citation

  • Mattoo, Aaditya & Olarreaga, Marcelo, 2001. "Should Credit be Given for Autonomous Liberalization in Multilateral Trade Negotiations?," CEPR Discussion Papers 2821, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
  • Handle: RePEc:cpr:ceprdp:2821
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    9. Robert W. Staiger & Kyle Bagwell, 1999. "An Economic Theory of GATT," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 89(1), pages 215-248, March.
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    Cited by:

    1. Kyle Bagwell & Robert W. Staiger, 2013. "Can the Doha Round Be a Development Round? Setting a Place at the Table," NBER Chapters, in: Globalization in an Age of Crisis: Multilateral Economic Cooperation in the Twenty-First Century, pages 91-124, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    2. Bernard Hoekman, 2002. "Developing Countries and the Political Economy of the Trading System," WIDER Working Paper Series DP2002-126, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).
    3. Mattoo, Aaditya, 2001. "Shaping future GATS rules for trade in services," Policy Research Working Paper Series 2596, The World Bank.
    4. Mattoo, Aaditya & Olarreaga, Marcelo, 2000. "Reciprocity Across Modes of Supply in the WTO: A Negotiating Formula," CEPR Discussion Papers 2481, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    5. Zdzislaw W. Puslecki, 2018. "The Increasing Importance of Bilateral Agreements in the Foreign Trade Policy," Journal of Management and Strategy, Journal of Management and Strategy, Sciedu Press, vol. 9(1), pages 19-30, February.
    6. Puślecki Zdzisław, 2023. "The new protectionism between the USA and China and international trade policy amid worldwide geopolitical turbulence," Ekonomista, Polskie Towarzystwo Ekonomiczne, issue 2, pages 125-151.
    7. Mattoo, Aaditya & Olarreaga, Marcelo, 2000. "Reciprocity across modes of supply in the World Trade Organization : a negotiating formula," Policy Research Working Paper Series 2373, The World Bank.
    8. Zdzisław W. Puślecki, 2016. "Bilateral trade agreements and the rise of global supply chains," Journal of Economic and Financial Studies (JEFS), LAR Center Press, vol. 4(5), pages 17-23, October.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Credit; Unilateral liberalization; Wto;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • F02 - International Economics - - General - - - International Economic Order and Integration
    • F13 - International Economics - - Trade - - - Trade Policy; International Trade Organizations
    • F15 - International Economics - - Trade - - - Economic Integration

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