International trade of developing countries is the classic weak vs. strong dichotomy, and underdeveloped or developing countries cannot make it solely on their own efforts; the have nots need help from the haves. Developed nations trumpet the claim that the answer to developing nations’ international trade issues is untrammeled or open market activity as opposed to government intervention by developed nations’ governments. This begs the question as to what extent the governments of developed nations are or should be responsible for supporting developing countries’ growth in international trading markets. Often the protectionist actions of developed nations’ governments to enhance their own international trading activities are the very hindrances faced by the developing countries, so much so that the developed nations are morally obligated to support the developing countries to offset the roadblocks created by these same developed countries with tariffs, quotas and other trade barriers. Trade Problems of Developing Nations In addressing the question, “Fair trade: Is it always ‘unfair’ for the developing countries” (Aditya, 2013), economists have argued that “the implication of fair trade on poverty [dirty exports and use of child labour] depend[s] on the sources of perverse comparative advantage” (p. 20). While developed nations decry the use of child labor in the garment industry in many developing countries and dirty exports of goods with high pollution content such as ferrous and non-ferrous metals, refined petroleum, and paper manufacture, capital flight from developed countries to these developing economies belies the very criticisms made of these industries. As Aditya (2013) points out, “a ban on the use of child labour... ... middle of paper ... ...87). True protection - Concepts and their role in evaluating trade policies in LDCs. Journal of Development Studies, 23(2), 200-219. Manu, F. A. (2009). Import substitution and export promotion: A continuing dilemma for developing countries. Journal Of International Business & Economics, 9(1), 100-104. Oxfam International. (2002). Oxgam annual report. Retrieved from http://www.oxfam.org/en/ annual-reports Singh, J. P. (2006). Coalitions, developing countries, and international trade: Research findings and prospects. International Negotiation, 11(3), 499-514. doi:10.1163/157180606779 155228 Subasat, T. (2009). Does simultaneous implementation of import-substitution and export-promotion neutralize each other? Journal Of Developing Areas, 43(1), 45-63. Winham, G. R. (1986). International trade and the Tokyo round negotiation. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press.
Trade is the most common form of transferring ownership of a product. The concepts are very simple, I give you something (a good or service) and you give me something (a good or service) in return, everyone is happy. However, trade is not limited to two individuals. There are trades that happen outside national borders and we refer to that as international trading. Before a country does international trading, they do research to understand the opportunity costs and marginal costs of their production versus another countries production. Doing this we can increase profit, decrease costs and improve overall trade efficiency. Currently, there are negotiations going on between 11 countries about making a trade agreement called the Trans-Pacific
After Sir John McEwen, the former Minister for Trade, signed the Australia-Japan Commerce Agreement in 1957, the trading aspect between the two nations has developed ...
The signing of the US treaty by Townsend Harris in 1858 opened more of the Japanese ports to trade, and also fixed tariffs. “The West made the Japanese agree that Western countries would determine import tariffs. This place, Japan at a distinct economic disadvantage in its ability to be competitive domestic or internationally.” (Woods, SW. (2004).
Trade has more similarities than differences across regions of the world for three major reasons similar good were traded, geographic location and culture/religion.
Because the manors supplied their own source of materials that were needed for community the society became self sufficient. Essential needs such as food, cloth, fuel, lumber, and other goods were produced from the land or animals. Consequently the few outside purchases made were things that weren’t grown on in that region such as salt and iron. Document 3 states, “International trade was carried on only to serve the demands of the wealthy, and it was largely in the hands of aliens [different peoples]—Greeks, Jews, Moslems. Local society made almost no use of money.’’ This shows that there was little need for international trade, those of the few who participated were meeting the demands of the wealthy. Also the trade heavily relied on people
Thurow, Lester. (1992). Head to Head: The Coming Economic Battle Among Japan, Europe, and America. New York: William Morrow & Co., Inc.
Even in a world focused on the benefits free trade and aimed at achieving the goal of free trade, states are protectionist by nature. Unfortunately, the design of the international system allows for stronger nations to be more protectionist, leaving the weaker states even more vulnerable. A study that is more intensive than a critical commentary should be devoted to analyzing the impact of free trade on developing nations. I was limited to the readings and prior knowledge, and thus couldn’t provide a sufficient analysis on the fair treatment of developing nations. I was skeptical of the one reading that focused on fairness of international institutions because of the statistics that indicate these nations have not done well in recent decades. I would like to look into this more given more time and resources.
While free trade has certainly changed with advances in technology and the ability to create external economies, the concept seems to be the most benign way for countries to trade with one another. Factoring in that imperfect competition and increasing returns challenge the concept of comparative advantage in modern international trade markets, the resulting introduction of government policies to regulate trade seems to result in increased tensions between countries as individual nations seek to gain advantages at the cost of others. While classical trade optimism may be somewhat naïve, the alternatives are risky and potentially harmful.
Mitchener, Kris, J. "Politics and trade: evidence from the age of imperialism." Voxeu.org. CEPR, 11 April 2008. Web. 30 November 2013.
Around the 1930s, Brazil and Latin American began following the process of Import Substitution Industrialization, which lasted until the end of the 1980s. The ISI policies devaluated the currency in order to boost exports and discourage imports, followed by adopting different exchange rates for goods (Watkins). ISI in Brazil had an interesting effect; it created a three-prong system of governmental, private, and foreign capital being directed at the infrastructure and heavy industry, manufacturing goods, and the production of durable goods. The program worked at first, but then became a serious economic problem. When the 1980s came around Brazil realized that ISI policies lead to inefficient industries because of their lack of exposure to international competition, the policies ignoring the rural sector, and finally limiting the local producers.
And even though the tariff barriers have been reduced significantly, but the other barriers still exist. The developing nations have argued that the protectionist trading policies of developed nations is being an obstacle against the industrialization of many developing nations. Accordingly, developing nations have sought a new international. trading system with improved access to the market of developed nations. Some of the problems that the developing nations faced have been unstable export markets. Deterioration of terms of trade, and limited access to the market of developed.
The developing countries were deeply split. A group of 10 hardliners, under the leadership of India and Brazil, fiercely opposed a new round, especially the inclusion of services, intellectual proper...
In order for international trade to work well, governments must allow the world market to determine how goods are sold, manufactured and traded for all to economically prosper. While all nations may have the capability to produce any goods or services needed by their population, it is not possible for all nations to have a comparative advantage for producing a good due to natural resources of the country or other available resources needed to produce a good or service. The example of trading among states comprising the United States is an example of how free trade works best without the interve...
Globalisation has been one of the most significant developments of the last half century, and issues such as trade and international commerce have become increasingly important. In consequence, problems such as poverty, unfair wages and poor working conditions in third world countries have been drawn to the attention of consumers (Hayes and Moore, 2007). This is a growing global issue which cannot be ignored by anyone concerned about the problems in developing countries. Free trade and Fair Trade have both been offered as solutions to these issues.
“…increasing international trade and financial flows since the Second World War have fostered sustained economic growth over the long term in the world’s high-income states. Some with idle incomes have prospered as well, but low-income economies generally have not made significant gains. The growing world economy has not produced balanced, healthy economic growth in the poorer states. Instead, the cycle of underdevelopment more aptly describes their plight. In the context of weak economies, the negative effects of international trade and foreign investments have been devastating. Issues of trade and currency values preoccupy the economic policies of states with low-income economies even more than those with high incomes because the downturns are far more debilitating.1”