Suchergebnisse

Considers the dying of multilateral negotiations and agreements all over the planet in the face of the global recession, with a particular focus on the WTO and as to what, if to any extent the WTO can in any way help to ameliorate the financial crisis. Especially fearful is protectionist stances that many countries seem desirous of taking, which could put a freeze on global trade. Looks at the history of the WTO, ITO, IMF, World Bank and the GATT, as they stood and now stand. The WTO, it would seem, is mired in numerous internal and external conundrums that may be unsolveable, at least at present. Also examines the Warwick Commission Report and its findings, such as the multitude of sides vying for power and attention on the global trade front, before describing numerous articles featured in the journal, along with goals that those authors hope to see achieved. Adapted from the source document.

On February 15, 1997, 69 countries agreed to provide market access to some or all of their basic telecommunications sectors. These 69 countries represent over 90% of the world's basic telecommunications revenues. This achievement came after two unsuccessful attempts to negotiate a multi-lateral agreement on basic telecommunications under the auspices of the World Trade Organization ("WTO"). It was an achievement warmly welcomed by consumers and suppliers of basic telecommunications services.

On Nov 11, 2001, in Doha, Qatar, the Fourth Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organization (WTO) unanimously approved Taiwan's application for WTO membership, just 24 hours after approving China's admission. Taiwan's choice as the Separate Customs Territory of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu, abbreviated as Chinese Taipei, in the WTO, instead of its official name, Republic of China (PRC), shows its reluctant compromise with political reality. The PRC's claim that accession procedures applying to Taiwan and Hong Kong should be identical erroneous because, under international trade law, the ROC is the automatic government acting on behalf of Taiwan and thus does not need the PRC's sponsorship. Coexistence of China and Taiwan makes the WTO a new diplomatic battle. Under the WTO framework, both China and Taiwan should abide by WTO law and treat the other as an equal trade partner. The WTO provides opportunity for facilitating cross-straight dialogues, and increasingly intensified economic relations may lead to political integration.

The process of China's accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO) is considered to be one of the toughest challenges faced by any country. Denied the status of a developing economy because of pressure from the US, the European Union and Japan, it has had to make commitments to cut tariffs and open its markets. China has been slow in abiding by its commitment with considerations of national sovereignty and security taking precedence over the issue of allowing greater access to the Chinese market and greater trade liberalization. Thus, the country's sovereignty and security were considered more important than consumer satisfaction, development of telecommunications network, innovation and, to a large extent, its services sector.

THIS ARTICLE SERVES AS A CASE STUDY OF THE RECONSTRUCTION OF THE SOVEREIGNTY DISCOURSE BY INTERESTS ALLIED WITH TRANSNATIONAL CAPITAL TO COMPORT WITH THE DISCOURSE OF SPACE OVER THE DISCOURSE OF PLACE. AFTER EXAMINING HOW THE SOVEREIGNTY DISCOURSE WAS USED IN THE PUBLIC DEBATE ON WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION (WTO) MEMBERSHIP, IT FOCUSES ON THE CONGRESSIONAL HEARINGS ON THE TWO AT WHICH THE UNDERSTANDING OF SOVEREIGNTY CONSONANT WITH THE DISCOURSE OF SPACE WAS CONSECRATED BY THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION AND CONGRESSIONAL LEADERSHIP. IT THEN EXPLORES DIFFICULTIES THAT THE SOVEREIGNTY DISCOURSE PRESENTS FOR THE REALIST VIEW OF THE STATE IN THE LATE 20TH CENTURY GLOBAL ECONOMY RELATED TO COMPETING PROJECTS OF DEFINING SOVEREIGNTY, CONSTITUTING STATE IDENTITY, AND THE IMPACT OF STRUCTURAL CHANGE.