Despite being somewhat paradoxical, the world has in recent times witnessed ambitious multilateral trade negotiations along with a proliferation of regional trading blocs. Almost all countries are now involved in both types of trading arrangements, with Bangladesh actively participating in several important trade talks under the World Trade Oganisation (WTO) alongside its commitments to the South Asian Free Trade Area (SAFTA). Different multilateral and regional trade negotiations have, however, different implications. For example, while the liberalisation of global agricultural trade- by reducing subsidies in rich countries and thereby causing prices to rise-will benefit many developing country farmers, it may hurl a formidable challenge for the net food importing countries in ensuring food security for their poor populations. Slimilarly, WTO negotiations in non-agricultural goods aim at improving market access for many, but for the least developed countries, including Bangladesh, currently enjoying tariff preferences in a large range of products in major markets, the ensuing outcomes could lead to preference erosion, undermining their competitiveness. Regional trading arrangements can also be challenging as they tend to replace global imports with less efficient regional supplies resulting in adverse welfare consequences.
Effective trade negotiations partly depend on a priori assessments of possible negotiation outcomes. As such, it is very important to provide the policymakers and trade negotiators with informed inputs on the potential implications of negotiating issues. Since trade negotiations comprise subject matters of conflicting interests-often amongst countries at comparable levels of development that otherwise share and support similar views and positions-only country-specific objective analyses based on appropriate research methods can inform the negotiators in the best possible way. This book is an endeavour in that direction. It focuses on some of the major issues in the on-going multilateral and regional trade negotiations, and employs state-of-the-art analytical tools to empirically assess their likely implications for Bangladesh. While the analyses and results presented would be useful for policymake and trade negotiators, this volume would also be of interest to trade analysts involved in empirical research.
Author Description
Selim Raihan
Dr. Selim Raihan, a faculty member of the Department of Economics, University of Dhaka, holds a PhD from the University of Manchester, uk. Dr Raihan’s research works focus on issues related to international trade, macroeconomic policies, and poverty. Dr Raihan possesses expertise in micro-and macro- econometric modelling techniques and Computable General Equilibrium (CGE) models. One of Dr.Raihan’s recent publications is Dynamics of Trade Liberalisation in Bangladesh: Analyses of policies and practices (a book published in Dhaka in June 2007). Some of other major works of Dr. Raihan include (along with co-authors): Trade and Industrial Policy Environment in Bangladesh with Special Reference to some Non-traditional Export Sectors and Venturing into a Quata-Free World: The Ready-made Garment Industry in Bangladesh. Dr. Raihan contributed several chapters in competitive Advantage and competition policy in Developing Countries (a book published by the Edward and Elgar, London in 2007). He was also a co-author of a chapter in poverty and the WTO: Impacts of the Doha Development Agenda (a book published by the World Bank, Washington in 2006). One of his forthcoming books (with co-authors) on poverty and income distribution is : Intra-household Resource Allocation Dynamics : A Study on Bangladesh. Dr. Raihan has worked for several national and international organisations including UNDP, World Bank, PEP, Commonwealth Secretariat, CUTS International, CPD, and BIDS, and has also presented his analytical works in a number of national and international conferences.
Abdur Razzaque
With a Ph D from the University of Sussex, UK, Dr Abdur Razzaque is a faculty member of the Department of Economics at Dhaka University. His primary research interests lie in the area of international trade and trade policy analysis. Dr Razzaque’s recent publications include several chapters in a book titled Commodity prices and Development (published by oxford University Press : UK), a chapter in WTO at the Margins (published by Cambridge University Press : UK), an edited volume, Global Rice Trade Liberalisation : Implications for South Asian Countries (published by Commonwealth Secretariat and Academic Foundation). His other major works on Bangladesh (along with co-authors) are Trade and Industrial policy Environment in Bangladesh with special Reference to some Non-traditiona Export Sectors and Venturing into a Quota-free World RMG Exports from Bangladesh. Two of his forthcoming books (with co-authors) on poverty and income distribution are:Intra-household Resource Allocation Dynamics: AStudy on Bangladesh, and Documenting the Undocumented : Female Migrant workers from Bangladesh. Dr Razzaque has contributed to research projects commissioned by, amongst others, Asian Development Bank, Bangladesh Institute of Development studies (BIDS), Commonwealth secretariat, International Development Research centre (IDRC), CUTS International, ILO, Planning commission of Bangladesh, UNCTAD, UNDP, and world Bank. He has also presented his works in various national and international conferences and workshops.
