Regulatory Autonomy and Multilateral Disciplines: The Dilemma and a Possible Resolution
A major challenge for the multilateral trading system is to
secure the benefits of trade liberalization without infringing on the freedom of
governments to pursue legitimate domestic objectives.
Authors:
- Aaditya
Mattoo
World Trade Organization - Arvind
Subramanian
International Monetary Fund
Manuscript date: January 1998
Abstract Back to top
A major challenge for the multilateral trading system is to secure the benefits of trade liberalization without infringing on the freedom of governments to pursue legitimate domestic objectives. The difficulty lies in distinguishing between two types of situations. In one, a non-protectionist government cannot prevent certain domestic policies from incidentally discriminating against foreign competitors. In the other, a protectionist government uses a legitimate objective as an excuse to design domestic policies which inhibit foreign competition. The challenge is to devise rules which are sensitive to the difference between these two situations, exonerating the former while preventing the latter. The approach suggested in this paper is to create a presumption in favour of the economically efficient policy measure, with departures inviting justification.
Keywords Back to top
International trade; regulation; national treatment; protection.
JEL codes: [F13], [K20], [K33]
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