Opportunities in the WTO for Increased Liberalization of Goods: Making Sure the Rules Work for All and That Special Needs are Addressed

Different governments focus on different parts of the existing World Trade Organization rules as posing opportunities for their producers to expand trade if the rules were relaxed or eliminated. While this may be understandable, it is the premise of this Essay that such an approach, if pursued, would result in slower trade liberalization, not increased liberalization, as those segments of industry perceiving that the existing equilibrium is not to their advantage are given no options other than to oppose further liberalization. When, as in agriculture, domestic politics can threaten the survival of governments, liberalization without strong rules can only be slow liberalization.