WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION AND CONCERNS OF DEVELOPING COUNTRIES: AN INSTITUTIONAL NEED ASSESSMENT FOR PAKISTAN

This article examines the major concerns of developing countries within the World Trade Organization (WTO) and provides an institutional needs assessment for Pakistan to more effectively navigate this complex system. It analyzes the key areas where the interests of developing and developed countries have clashed in the WTO, such as in the negotiations on agricultural subsidies, intellectual property rights (TRIPS), and market access for industrial goods. The study argues that developing countries often lack the technical and legal capacity to participate effectively in the WTO's complex negotiation and dispute settlement processes. The research then focuses on the specific case of Pakistan, assessing the capacity of its government ministries and other institutions to formulate, negotiate, and implement trade policy. The paper identifies significant institutional weaknesses and capacity constraints. The analysis concludes by proposing a set of recommendations for an institutional reform agenda in Pakistan, aimed at strengthening its capacity to defend its national interests and to build effective coalitions with other developing countries within the WTO.

The World Trade Organization (WTO) is the central institution of the global trading system, but for many developing countries, it is a challenging and often-frustrating arena. This paper analyzes the key concerns of developing countries within the WTO and uses this as a basis for an institutional needs assessment for Pakistan. The first part of the study provides a comprehensive overview of the major North-South divides in the WTO. It delves into the contentious issue of agricultural trade, where developing countries have long fought against the massive and trade-distorting subsidies provided by the US and the EU. It also examines the controversies surrounding the TRIPS agreement and its implications for access to affordable medicines. The second part of the paper focuses on the institutional capacity needed to effectively engage in this complex system. It argues that successful participation in the WTO requires a sophisticated and well-resourced institutional infrastructure at the national level. The core of the article is an assessment of this infrastructure in Pakistan. It examines the capacity of the Ministry of Commerce, the country's lead trade policy body, and other relevant institutions, identifying significant deficits in areas such as legal expertise, economic analysis, and inter-agency coordination. The findings lead to a clear set of recommendations. The paper concludes by calling for a major national investment in building trade policy capacity in Pakistan, including the strengthening of government departments, the creation of independent trade policy research institutes, and the development of a more inclusive policy-making process that involves the private sector and civil society.