The Doha Development Agenda and the General Agreement on Trade in Services Negotiation and Regulatory Reform in Korea

Abstract

Economists argue that trade liberalization is good for every country involved in the process since, according to Ricardian theory, free trade would allow more trade, which, in turn, offers wider choices for consumers and allows the most efficient producers to concentrate on their specialty areas. This observation raises the issue as to whether the general public believes in such a proposition. If the answer to the question is not in the affirmative, then there must be other reasons why developing country members participate in trade negotiation. An attempt is made to resolve this issue from a new standpoint - the regulatory reform perspective with particularly reference to Korea. Even if this new perspective is satisfactory, the issue remains as to whether the general public can be persuaded by its intrinsic argument. However, a new and different answer definitely adds to the reasons why developing country members should participate in the services negotiation associated with The Doha Development Agenda and the General Agreement on Trade in Services Negotiation.