Opportunities and Obligations

While there are many aspects to the challenges faced by nations and their people, trade is often one of the key issues faced and exemplifies the difficulty of finding a way through complex policy options. International trade has evolved beyond basic questions of tariffs. International trade laws and regulations affect aspects of life from access to healthy food to the protection of the latest innovations in communications and nanotechnology. An important challenge for all nations in the short term is whether the international trading system is configured to ensure sustainable economic growth that is enjoyed by all people of the world. This challenge is complicated by non-trade aspects haunting many nations' effort to improve the future for their citizens. The timely work contains a variety of essays from individuals who presently or in the past have been trade negotiators, worked in the WTO or its predecessor, are serving in legislatures, represent important constituencies, teach aspects of the WTO system or advise clients in the private sector. The essays are grouped into three sections: looking at the ongoing Doha negotiations and/or describing changes to the WTO system or negotiation approach that are needed/viewed as desirable; examining the direction US trade policy should take moving forward; and critically examining the world food crisis and what role the trading system and individual WTO members can take in helping to resolve the crisis.