Did the protectionist dog bark? Transparency, accountability, and the WTO during the global financial crisis
Leaders of the G20 promised repeatedly that they would refrain from trade restrictions in response to the global financial crisis that began in 2008, and that they would minimize the negative impact on trade and investment of stimulus measures.
They also promised to hold themselves accountable for this commitment using a novel transparency mechanism based in the World Trade Organization (WTO). At the same time, the Global Trade Alert (GTA) set itself up as an alternative accountability mechanism. A detailed comparison of GTA and WTO data on the number of measures each found, and of their ability to offer robust interpretations of the measures, allows both a check on the official story, and a consideration of how transparency can help to close the gap between commitment and action, thereby contributing to accountable global governance.
Participating experts
You might also be interested in
CSDDD: EU's Due Diligence Law Vote Should Drive Supply Chain Sustainability Efforts
The European Parliament has voted to adopt the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive, aiming to address the environmental and social impacts of the supply chains of Europe's large corporations.
Will the Inclusion of Voluntary Standards in Trade Agreements Lead to More Sustainable Trade?
The use of voluntary sustainability standards (VSSs) and similar systems in free trade agreements (FTAs) is gaining traction. Will it lead to more sustainable production and consumption globally?
Ecuador Referendum Rules Out ISDS Return, Underlining Public Support for a Sustainable Path
Ecuador has voted to allow international arbitration and investor–state dispute settlement (ISDS) in its treaties and agreements. But the risks that initially made them turn away from this outdated model remain.
A Sustainable Asset Valuation Assessment of Building and Transport Infrastructure Investment in the Shymkent-Tashkent-Khujand Economic Corridor
This report presents the Sustainable Asset Valuation (SAVi) of a proposed transport and building infrastructure development on the border of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan to promote close and mutually beneficial trade relationships between the countries.