Developing Countries in the World Trading System

The course will focus on several major topics regarding economic development and the position of developing countries in the contemporary World Trade Organization (WTO) law. The course would address the principal dimensions and measurement of "underdevelopment" (GDP, GNI and the Human Development Index), the major approaches to development (e.g., the modernization, dependency, developmental state, neo-liberal, neo-institutional, and geographical approaches). Following a brief discussion of the central principles of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (including the MFN principle, tariffs, non-tariff barriers, national treatment and the general exceptions) special emphasis will be placed on the special position of developing countries in the WTO legal system. Thus, for instance, we will explore the particular position of developing countries with regard to tariffs (imposed on agricultural, textile and digital products or services) non-reciprocal trade preferences in favor of developing countries, and import standards.