The World Trading System at Risk

Jagdish N. Bhagwati

Published by Princeton University Press 1991

The World Trading System at Risk

Jagdish N. Bhagwati

Volume 1142 in the series Princeton Legacy Library

https://doi.org/10.1515/9781400861590

Overview
Contents

About this book

Jagdish Bhagwati, one of the world's leading economists, offers a fascinating overview of the perils and promise facing the world trading system. That system is now being subjected to powerful centrifugal forces. Concerns with unfair trade are rampant, managed trade is increasingly popular, and regionalism is spreading. The United States, the traditional bulwark of multilateralism, has recently resorted to aggressive, unilateral tactics in trade policy. To a consideration of these developments, Bhagwati brings a unique blend of economic theory, historical scholarship, and familiarity with the institutions of world trade. Bhagwati refutes facile but fashionable criticisms of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT). Warning of the dangers of flouting the GATT's provisions, he shows that its underlying conception of trading by rules will be undermined if we extend accusations of "unfair trade" practices to areas as diverse as retail distribution systems, infrastructure spending, saving rates, and workers' rights. He challenges the economic and cultural stereotypes of Japan that fuel the sentiments supporting managed trade and aggressive unilateralism. In addition, he provides novel suggestions for rebuilding the GATT and with it the world trading system itself--suggestions that should prove useful at the Uruguay Round and beyond.

Originally published in 1991.

The Princeton Legacy Library uses the latest print-on-demand technology to again make available previously out-of-print books from the distinguished backlist of Princeton University Press. These editions preserve the original texts of these important books while presenting them in durable paperback and hardcover editions. The goal of the Princeton Legacy Library is to vastly increase access to the rich scholarly heritage found in the thousands of books published by Princeton University Press since its founding in 1905.

Reviews

"Thank goodness that Jagdish Bhagwati, a leading authority on the economics of international trade, is raising his voice against the arrogant, misguided, and self-destructive trends in U.S. trade policy."—James Tobin, Yale University

"Jagdish Bhagwati, from the free-trade corner of the ring, takes on the challengers, who advocate "managed trade.' All who follow international finance and trade policy will want to read this free-for-all, no-holds-barred debate. Good fun but deadly serious at the same time."—Paul A. Samuelson, MIT

"Jagdish Bhagwati has written a thoughtful, scholarly, and authoritative analysis of the current status and future potential of GATT. Attention to his warnings and the adoption of his specific suggestions would go far to check the current movement to mindless protectionism and to assure the success of the Uruguay Round in fostering freer international trade."—Milton Friedman, Hoover Institution

Topics

Frontmatter Publicly Available Download PDF	i
Contents Publicly Available Download PDF	v
Preface Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	vii
CHAPTER ONE. Overview Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	1
PART ONE. THE GATT ARCHITECTURE: THE THREAT
CHAPTER TWO. The Rise of Unfair Trade Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	13
CHAPTER THREE. The Issue of Managed Trade Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	23
CHAPTER FOUR. Aggressive Unilateralism Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	48
CHAPTER FIVE. Regionalism Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	58
PART TWO. RECONSTRUCTING THE GATT: THE PROMISE
CHAPTER SIX. The Uruguay Round and Beyond Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	83
APPENDIX I: Clarifying Conceptual Confusions and Refuting Fallacies Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	99
APPENDIX II: Changes in GATT Membership since 1982 Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	113
APPENDIX III: Dispute Settlement Cases at the GATT, 1980–1988 Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	115
APPENDIX IV: Explaining Section 301, Special 301, and Super 301 in U.S. Trade Legislation: The Instruments of Aggressive Unilateralism Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	126
APPENDIX V: The Negotiating Groups at the Uruguay Round Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	141
Notes Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	143
References Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	151

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