Revitalizing the World Trading System
Published on 6. July 2023
Book
Hardback
588 pages
978-1-009-28931-3 (ISBN)
Description
In recent years, the world trading system has been confronted by a range of new and developing challenges: the risk of climate change, the instability of the digital economy, the ongoing impacts of COVID-19 and the threat of future pandemics, to name but a few. In this book, veteran trade negotiator, Ambassador Alan Wm. Wolff, draws from his years of experience at the World Trade Organization to consider the history of trade, the current trading system and how it should be reformed in the future. Offering a rare insight into the inner workings of the WTO, Wolff is uniquely placed to identify deficiencies in the current system and suggest actionable solutions. This essential guidebook to the WTO equips readers with the tools and knowledge required to tackle to emerging and emergent challenges of a global trading system.
Reviews / Votes
'This book provides a wealth of new ideas. For some of the problems of the WTO, Wolff offers solutions that have never been tried before or not even thought of. His book provides guidance for a strategy that allows for gains and sacrifices to overcome opposition. He shows new ways to overcome hitherto unsurmountable obstacles.' Karl Brauner, Former Deputy Director-General of the WTO, and Former Director General for Trade in the Economics Ministry of Germany 'The WTO, a vital pillar of global economic governance, remains in serious trouble. Drawing upon decades of trade policy experience, Alan Wolff explains why and, more importantly, what to do about it. This volume is essential reading for senior trade policy officials, analysts, and students of the world trading system.' Simon J. Evenett, University of St. Gallen 'Alan Wm. Wolff's book is comprehensive and insightful, drawing on his extensive working experience inside and outside the GATT/WTO. He discusses with precision and clarity the origins, evolution, substantive content, and day-to-day workings of the WTO, and suggests ways of improving the workings of a troubled institution. Overall, a valuable contribution.' Patrick Low, Former Chief Economist of the WTO 'This book is an essential reference for any trade enthusiast wishing to make a positive contribution in the face of the many challenges confronting the Multilateral Trading System. In a rapidly changing and increasingly complex trade landscape, this book goes beyond addressing the future of the WTO and looks at the WTO of the future.' Hamid Mamdouh, Former Director, Services and Investment Division of the WTO, and Former Egyptian Delegate to the GATT 'Wolff, former deputy director-general of the World Trade Organization, has written the definitive guide to the past, present and possible future of the multilateral trading system. Somewhat surprisingly, given rising hostility to the WTO and trade itself in the US, his own country, and the lack of enthusiastic support elsewhere, notably including China and the EU, he is optimistic: 'Autarky cannot be achieved?...?There can be no decoupling of major economies except at unacceptably high cost.' The WTO is the only place where the needed international co-operation can be sustained because it, like trade itself, is global.' Martin Wolf, Financial Times - Best Economics Books of 2023 'The book provides a comprehensive account of various trade issues by looking at their history, present status and future prospects. It moves logically from chapter to chapter, but also can be read selectively, depending on the level of interest of individual readers. It is written in an engaging style and will be of interest to academicians, practitioners and the general public in equal part. ... Wolff has done a good job in analyzing the problems that the WTO confronts in retaining its relevance and legitimacy.' Ujal Singh Bhatia, Journal of World Investment & TradeMore details
Language
English
Place of publication
Cambridge
United Kingdom
Target group
Professional and scholarly
Edition type
New edition
Product notice
sewn/stitched
Cloth over boards
Illustrations
Worked examples or Exercises
Dimensions
Height: 229 mm
Width: 152 mm
Thickness: 32 mm
Weight
948 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-009-28931-3 (9781009289313)
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Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
Alan Wm. Wolff
Revitalizing the World Trading System
Book
07/2023
Cambridge University Press
€38.50
Shipment within 15-20 days
Person
Ambassador Alan Wm. Wolff is a Distinguished Visiting Fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics, and was co-Acting Director General (2020-21) and Deputy Director-General of the World Trade Organization (2017-21). He is a leader in the field of international trade, with over five decades of experience as a lawyer and trade negotiator. He is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) and the Friends of Multilateralism Group (FMG).
Content
Introduction: saving the world trading system; Part I. Why Trade?: 1. The origins of trade; Part II. The Multilateral Trading System: 2. The founding of the multilateral trading system; 3. Core elements of the world trading system; 4. Twenty values of the multilateral trading system; 5. A brief history of the WTO as told to us by its ministerial conferences; Part III. The Regular Operations of the WTO: 6. A week at the WTO; Part IV. Major Substantive Topics: 7. Dispute settlement at the WTO; 8. Agriculture; 9. Services; 10. E-Commerce; 11. Development at the WTO; Part V. World Trade Governance and Systemic Reform: 12. The problem of governance of the multilateral trading system; 13. The need for WTO reform; 14. WTO 2025: WTO Reform; Part VI. Conclusion: 15. Conclusion - The future of the WTO; Afterword. The art and science of negotiation; Bibliography.