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Did WTO rules restrain protectionism during the recent systemic crisis?

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  • Evenett, Simon

Abstract

This paper challenges the contention that WTO rules had much impact on state behaviour during the recent global economic crisis. Evidence on the variety of discrimination implemented by governments, characteristics of the recent systemic crisis, as well as on certain, often overlooked features of WTO obligations are used to support a conclusion that the WTO rules altered at most the composition of crisis-era protectionism. As to the quantum of protectionism, it is unclear how WTO rules could have prevented many governments from adopting tariff increases on the scale of the Smoot Hawley tariff. Pessimistic implications are drawn concerning the future restraining role that multilateral trade obligations could ever play during systemic economic crises. Realistically, the fate of the open world trading system must rely on other incentives to refrain from protectionism.

Suggested Citation

  • Evenett, Simon, 2011. "Did WTO rules restrain protectionism during the recent systemic crisis?," CEPR Discussion Papers 8687, Centre for Economic Policy Research.
    • Handle: RePEc:cpr:ceprdp:8687
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    Cited by:

    1. Evenett, Simon, 2013. "Mapping Crisis-Era Protectionism in Latin America and the Caribbean," CEPR Discussion Papers 9782, Centre for Economic Policy Research.
    2. Adlung, Rudolf & Miroudot, Sébastien, 2012. "Poison in the wine? Tracing GATS-minus commitments in regional trade agreements," WTO Staff Working Papers ERSD-2012-04, World Trade Organization (WTO), Economic Research and Statistics Division.
    3. Jean-Christophe Bureau & Sébastien Jean, 2013. "Trade liberalization in the bio-economy: coping with a new landscape," Agricultural Economics, International Association of Agricultural Economists, vol. 44(s1), pages 173-182, November.
    4. Simon Evenett, 2013. "Mapping Crisis-Era Protectionism in the Asia Pacific Region," ADBI Working Papers 445, Asian Development Bank Institute.
    5. Ajit Singh, 2016. "Competition, competition policy, competitiveness, globalization and development," Chapters, in: Erik S. Reinert & Jayati Ghosh & Rainer Kattel (ed.), Handbook of Alternative Theories of Economic Development, chapter 35, pages 666-688, Edward Elgar Publishing.
    6. Simon J. Evenett, 2014. "Mapping crisis-era protectionism in the Asia and Pacific region," Chapters, in: Richard Baldwin & Masahiro Kawai & Ganeshan Wignaraja (ed.), A World Trade Organization for the 21st Century, chapter 6, pages 130-156, Edward Elgar Publishing.

    More about this item

    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • F02 - International Economics - - General - - - International Economic Order and Integration
    • F13 - International Economics - - Trade - - - Trade Policy; International Trade Organizations
    • F53 - International Economics - - International Relations, National Security, and International Political Economy - - - International Agreements and Observance; International Organizations

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