The fourth of a series prepared by the International Institute for Sustainable Development and the International Centre for Trade and Sustainable Development. Reducing tariffs and non-tariff barriers on industrial goods was the core of multilateral trade negotiations under the GATT and remains central to the negotiations agreed in Doha under the WTO. Most countries support this mandate, although many developing countries and, in particular, small economies are concerned about loss of government revenue, the potential weakening of their competitiveness, and the expected erosion of preferential access margins vis-à-vis other developing country competitors. In addition, they have also been alarmed by reports indicating that reductions in tariff and non-tariff barriers will disproportionately benefit developed countries.
