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The CEPII Newsletter       
December 2013        



The French edition is slightly different as it also includes material available in French only  

Europe Monnaie & Finance Trade & Globalization Migrations Economic Policy Emerging Economies Competitivness & Growth Environment & Natural Ressources
  Focus

A quantitative assessment of the economic impact of the DDA

Negotiators reached a trade deal on a limited series of issues WTO Ministerial Conference in Bali (3–6 December 2013), one of these being trade facilitation. Based on a quantitative assessment taking into account the detail of the last proposals circulated, we argue however that the design of the negotiation led the DDA to a dead end.
Yvan Decreux, Lionel Fontagné

+++ More on trade negociations  and even more in French
  Edito




Bali: Saving private WTO

As a result of pragmatism and intensive diplomatic efforts during the last months, the WTO sealed in Bali the first global trade in its eighteen-year long history. Although sky-high figures have been mentioned as to the potential benefits of the agreement on trade facilitation, its practical achievements are likely to remain limited. But the real benefits probably lie elsewhere, namely in preserving the negotiating function of the WTO. This organization is an extremely valuable asset for the multilateral trading system, and while negotiating new rules is not its only function, it is an indispensable ingredient of the organization’s credibility. In this sense, the agreement reached in Bali is worth celebrating.
Then comes the serious question: now that the tool is saved, what to do with it? The world economy experienced dramatic changes since the Doha Round was launched. The challenge is now to update the negotiating agenda and procedures so as to accommodate the new economic clout of emerging economies, the widespread development of global value chains and the growing concerns surrounding food security. This is the condition to make Bali’s success a first step toward improved governance rules for the world trading system.
Sébastien Jean


ISSN: 1255-7072
Editorial Director : Antoine Bouët
Managing Editor : Dominique Pianelli