Question

what are the major threats to further world trade liberalization?

Answer 1

Answer:

Definition of Trade Liberalization :

The removal of or reduction in the trade practices that thwart free flow of goods and services from one nation to another.

It includes dismantling of tariff (such as duties, surcharges, and export subsidies) as well as non tariff barriers (such as licensing regulations, quotas, and arbitrary standards).

Major threats to further world trade liberalization are:

1.MainThreat:

Commercial logging is by far the greatest threat to the world’s old growth forests, affecting 70% of these forests.

Large-scale mining, exploration for oil, road building and land clearing for agriculture – all commonly export orientated activities – are other important causes of forest loss.

There is therefore a direct link between trade, trade liberalisation and forest loss.

This paper explores that link and focuses on the potential impact of trade agreements on the world’s forests.

Although the main subject of this report is the specific economic, environmental and social impacts of global trade liberalisation on the world’s forests, to set the scene,we begin by looking at the broader context of the implications of the GATT/WTO process for the world economy.

2.Threat to Japan:

The Japanese government was one of the few governments within Apec 35 against the ATL proposal.

It continued to oppose the ATL in the run up to and during the Seattle Ministerial.

In an unprecedented move, the Japanese Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forests (MAFF) consulted NGOs in Europe and the US to secure their co-operation in influencing the position of their government.

Japan has adopted a similar position to that of the EU on this issue: it is not against tariff liberalisation in general but it has made its opposition against tariff liberalisation in the forest products sector clear.

The main reason for this opposition is that Japan wants to protect its own forests and forestry industries, which are under serious threat from cheap imports from abroad).

3.Threat to Europe:

The real threat for Europe comes from inside, not from the outside of the Union; it resides in the lack of willingness portrayed by politicians in making the fight against poverty and economic disparities within societies their primary goal.

4.Other threat :

posed by globalization refers to the environmental development if not tackled at the right moment, it may degenerate into real threats against world peace and security.

The European Union cannot withdraw itself into a nutshell and disconsider what is happening around its borders.

It must use the potential it has by helping the developing countries to counteract the negative effects of globalization.

The fundamental actions that must be taken are the progressive reduction of the trade barriers and the firm support of those economic measures that would pay off in the future by promoting the continuous trade liberalization.

Europe can transform globalization into a successful story if it manages to define its role in international relations, especially in those forums where it must act with a single unitary voice, such as the WTO, UN, the World Bank and IMF.