Friedrich-Naumann-Stiftung für die Freiheit - WTO: Where to go from Cancun?

Friedrich-Naumann-Stiftung für die Freiheit - WTO: Where to go from Cancun? [Druckversion]

WTO: Where to go from Cancun?
Liberal Digest

This is the 1st publication in the Liberal Digest Series. The issue of WTO is being discussed for sometime now. Cancun meeting is the 5th in the series of WTO's ministerial meetings.

The Chairman of the board of the Friedrich-Naumann-Foundation Dr. Otto Count Lambsdorff in his speech in December 2003 at Bangkok dealt with the question: Where to go from Cancun?

The Indian perspective has been dealt with by Dr. Veena Jha.

An introduction to the issue has also been included in this booklet.

Review in the "SPOTLIGHT", a nationl newsmagazine from Nepal, 1-7th October 2004

Whither WTO

The book discusses where the WTO is heading following the Cancun meet. Although Nepal has become the 148th country to join the World Trade Organization (WTO), there are only a few people who know all about what the WTO means and how it is going help or affect them in the years ahead.

The book also includes the edited speech by Dr. Otto Count Lambsdorff, chairman of the Board of the Friedrich-Naumann-Foundation.

The new Liberal Digest, a publication of Friedrich-Naumann-Foundation on WTO, has all the answers of the questions regarding the WTO. In his speech Dr. Lambsdorff indicates that rule making, accompanied by improved market access should help to sustain higher rates of global economic growth and poverty reduction in addition to helping developing countries better integrate into the world economy.

"As liberals, we know that trade is everything else but a zero sum game. This is why Europeans appreciate and support the progress of economic reform and trade liberalization in Asia," writes Dt, Lambsdorff. "The exchange between Asia and Europe is steadily growing and we both need strong trading partners."

In his article on A Basic Intriduction to WTO, Subodh Kumar explains all important aspects of WTO including its objectives, functions and structures.

On a word of caution, Dr. Lambsdorff suggests communicating what is really at stake to the broader public in all countries. This would be imperative to fight the wrong facts and misconceptions popularised by the anti-global activists, writes Hubertus von WelIck, Regional director.