For the least developed countries (LDCs) facing supply‐side constraints, the SDGs target of doubling the share of their global exports by 2020 is a chimera. Various mechanisms have been put in place to help LDCs to enhance their trade capacity, of which WTO Aid for Trade (AfT) is a notable one. Although the Enhanced Integrated Framework (EIF) pre‐dates the AFT initiative, the EIF's focus on evidence based needs assessment, institutional and policy support and productive capacity building support have helped a number of LDCs overcome their binding constraints to trade expansion. Besides, country ownership principle, partnership approach and targeted nature of AfT support means that the chances of achieving success is much higher than other development interventions.
This article addresses a crucial policy question—what sort of a competition law and policy should a developing country have? The underlying thesis that we embrace is that the development dimension is key. The article looks at the objectives of competition law and policy across countries, followed by a discussion of key competition policy concerns that have bearing on consumer welfare, economic efficiency and competitiveness of domestic enterprises. It also provides a brief sketch on the contours of competition policy and a benchmark for the enactment and effective implementation of competition law from a developing country's perspective. The article also touches upon international competition policy issues to the extent they have a bearing on domestic competition concerns. The analysis that follows, shows that each developing country should have its sui generis com petition policy and law—tailored to suit its country-specific requirements, and that no one size fits all.
Phasing out of the Agreement on Textiles and Clothing (ATC) have had different degrees of impact on the South Asian countries depending on their level of competitiveness, factor endowment and marketing calibre. Based on the data available for the first two years after the phasing out of quotas, it can be inferred that temporary safeguards imposed on China have provided some breathing space for the relatively less competitive countries in the region. However, the entire landscape of the Textiles and Clothing (T&C) sector in the region will change after the elimination of these safeguards in 2008. This article argues that despite several constraints, the South Asia region has a potential to develop itself as a global T&C hub. Therefore, concerted efforts need to be made at three levels to realize this potential. First, to form a common position at the international negotiations forum to overcome protectionist market access barriers. This should be done in tandem with the use of the regional cooperation platform to remove barriers to trade, investment and technology transfer within the region. Second, to make investments in addressing supply side constraints in order to enhance the competitiveness of the South Asian T&C sector in a phased manner. Third, to adopt strategies used successfully by countries within and outside the region to ward off competitive pressures, which are likely to ensue when the T&C trade becomes free from all restrictions.
In South Asia agriculture is not merely a matter of commerce but a means of livelihood and a pattern of rural life. The agriculture sector however, is the most heavily protected sector in the world economy. The attempt to liberalize the agriculture trading sector through the Agreement on Agriculture (AoA) negotiated during the Uruguay Round and secure greater market access to the agricultural products of developing countries, has had mixed results. In actual implementation the AoA did not mean much to the developing countries due to the discriminatory nature of the Agreement. Further, opening the market alone does not serve the purpose unless supply side constraints are eliminated or minimised. Hence both a programme of sensible domestic policies as well as international lobbying to make the process of liberalization more transparent and equitable should be undertaken by South Asian and developing countries.
The LDCs, which are not only highly vulnerable and least prepared to face climate-related challenges but also resource-strapped, can leverage AFT to mobilize climate finance. This, however, requires better appreciation of the need to enhance coordination, build capacity and achieve synergies between two important sources of development finance. Since this is an under researched
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