In Constraining Public Libraries: The World Trade Organization's General Agreement on Trade in Services, the authors present a compelling argument for why the library community should be concerned about the effect of international trade agreements on the ability to deliver library and information services to the public. The book begins with a rigorous yet succinct description of the relevant provisions of the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS), proceeds to discuss how it is likely to impact particular public library services, and then discusses how the library community could best respond to these challenges. While there cannot be certainty when considering how GATS will ultimately impinge upon public libraries, this book pinpoints potential problem areas. It is a valuable tool in informing the dialogue within public libraries on the World Trade Organization, and providing the foundation for effective advocacy at the domestic and international levels to ensure that public libraries continue to play a central role in their communities for generations to come. Those in library and information science, as well as public administrators, educators, students, political and policy science professionals, government officials, and trade negotiators, will find this book to be an informative resource.

This book examines the strategic and economic logic behind the Bangladesh-China-India-Myanmar (BCIM) Regional Cooperation. According to estimates, BCIM covers approximately 9 percent of the world's mass and 40 percent of the world's population spanning across four countries, constituting the confluence of East, Southeast and South Asia. It contributes about 13 percent to world trade but ironically only 5 percent to inter-regional trade. This volume compares the various approaches to cooperation - trade-led vs project-led, geo-political vs geo-strategic, Sino-centric vs India-led. The chapters explore the complex interplay of geo-economics and geo-politics associated with BCIM sub-regional cooperation in general, and the BCIM Economic Corridor (BCIM-EC) in particular. It points to the current challenges that impede globalisation and economic growth, and critically reviews implications for the stakeholders, institutional frameworks and the spatial impact of the Corridor, especially on the underdeveloped regions. The book discusses the geo-political, geo-economic and geo-strategic advantages that will accrue to the member countries once the sub-regional cooperation becomes fully functional. It advocates the adoption of best practices from similar sub-regional groupings across the globe. This book will be of great interest to scholars and researchers of politics and international relations, geo-politics, strategic studies, sub-regional cooperation, South Asian studies, India-China relations, foreign trade and economics, besides those dealing with foreign policy and development cooperation. It will especially benefit policymakers, development agencies and strategic think tanks.

This volume approaches the history of Japanese-German relations from a business history perspective. Starting with an overview of Japanese-German relations which focuses on the environment, strategies and forms of inter-firm relations, Akira Kudo then uses case studies to provide a broader picture, before finally considering strategy, organizational strategy and technology and management transfer in the light of problems identified earlier. All the case studies are chosen to meet specific criteria which allow the author to move from individual details towards a broader picture and thus provide a history of Japanese-German business relations during the Inter-war years.

This volume is a detailed account of the evolution and theory of multinational trading companies. In the history of multinational business, trading companies have played an especially significant and strategic role which continues until the present day, when Japan's "sogo shosha" and giant commodity traders feature among the world's largest businesses. However, the origins and strategies of multinational trading companies are little known compared to those of manufacturing multinationals. The book features contributions from an international selection of US, European and Asian economists and business historians which demonstrate the importance of trading companies in trade and investment flows in the world economy from the 19th century to the late 1990s. The authors adopt evolutionary and comparative perspectives to examine diversification strategies and organizational structures. This study contributes to our knowledge of the history and theory of international business.

Timely and accessible, this is the only available comprehensive review of the goals, operation, and history of the U.S. antidumping laws coupled with a strategy for using those laws to promote U.S. trade policy and economic objectives in the post-Uruguay Round World.

Mastel, a former congressional adviser to U.S. trade negotiators, brings a unique expertise to the subject, having been involved in the creation and the analysis of the laws. He brings fact to bear on the sometimes heated debate over the merits of antidumping laws and the impact of the Uruguay Round upon U.S. antidumping laws.

Thoroughly documented, the book features charts and international case studies (including the steel, electronics, ball beatings, cement, and agricultural products industries) the at resent the historical and economic record of U.S. antidumping laws. In addition, the complete text of the Agreement on Implementation of Article VI of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade 1994 is conveniently reproduced in the appendix.

This volume reviews the goals, operation, and history of American antidumping laws coupled with a strategy for using those laws to promote U.S. trade policy and economic objectives in the post-Uruguay Round GATT talks.

An international team of contributors argues in this book that a policy of cheap labour, combined with currency devaluation, is no longer sufficient for export success. Through a series of case studies of firms in the textile, garment and electronic industries of five Asian economies - Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, Indonesia and Vietnam - they set out to demonstrate that, to sustain competitiveness, learning and capability formation are essential. Among the main findings of these case studies are that growing international competition and rising labour costs have reduced the time that new entrants into a market have for enjoying wage and cost advantages; that there are no fixed formulas or sequences in technology-capability formation for firms to become successful exporters of manufactured goods; that continuous innovation in product design, production processes, management routines, marketing, and the organization of production are the basis for competitiveness in all industries and in all countries; that learning and internalization of knowledge are crucial to acquiring the technological know-how to break into export markets and then maintain market share; and that domestic demand is

A groundbreaking exploration of US-China relations as seen through the lens of international finance Rising tensions between China and the United States have kept the financial markets on edge as a showdown between the world's two largest economies seems inevitable. But what most people fail to recognise is the major impact that the financial markets themselves have had on the creation and acceleration of the conflict. In Financial Cold War: A View of Sino-US Relations from the Financial Markets, market structure and geopolitical finance expert James Fok explores the nuances of China-US relations from the perspective of the financial markets. The book helps readers understand how imbalances in the structure of global financial markets have singularly contributed to frictions between the two countries. In this book, readers will find: A comprehensive examination of the development of financial markets in both China and the US, as well as the current US dollar-based global financial system Insightful observations of the roles of technology, innovation, regulation, taxation, and politics in the markets, and on their resulting effect on US-Sino relations Thorough explorations of the role of Hong Kong as an intermediary for capital flows between China and the rest of the world Suggestions for how, balancing the many varying interests, policymakers might be able to devise effective strategies for de-escalating current Sino-US tensions Financial Cold War is a can't-miss resource for anyone personally or professionally interested in the intersection of economics and international relations, financial markets, and the infrastructure underlying the international financial system.

First published in 1907, this substantial volume emerged as guidance to those involved in international trade at the time of the British Empire, with a focus on seafaring commerce and its hazards. Its dedication to Herbert H. Asquith and support from the International Law Association suggest it was an authoritative text. The author aims to provide a full exposition of the rules of International Law which governed the commercial relations of the subjects of neutral and belligerent nations. Produced with lawyers, shipowners, shippers and public servants in mind, it covers issues including contraband, blockades, capture and rescue.

First published in 1999. Firms in manufacturing industries are influenced by the market-oriented liberalization reform policies in many developing countries since the late eighties. However, studies applying appropriate methodology to appropriate data seldom analyze the impact of reforms on the performance of production units such as manufacturing firms. The central point of this book is to address this issue by comparing firms' achievement with 'best practice' performance before and after reforms. This form of analysis is not new but it emphasizes a new focus or realignment of thinking within neoclassical economics to develop an analytical framework. This book examines the productivity growth of Bangladesh manufacturing firms as component measures of changes in capacity realization and technical progress. The significant feature of this approach is that it allows for the inefficiency of firms, and thus productivity growth is estimated rather than taking it as a residual as is usually measured in the traditional growth accounting approach. High rates of technological progress, on the one hand, can co-exist with low rates of capacity realization. On the other hand, relatively low rates of technological progress can co-exist with an improving capacity realization. As a result specific policy actions are required to address the difference in the sources of variation in productivity. In this respect this book would provide invaluable insights for policy makers, development practitioners, academics and students of economics.

First published in 1998. This book makes an original contribution to our understanding of policy failures at the European and international level. On the basis of a comparative analysis the study shows how the co-ordination mechanisms available in the European Community and OECD have complicated the regulation of national policies on state aid to exporting industries. This failure can be explained in theoretical terms: international and supranational organisations are not neutral arbiters, but have interests of their own, interests which are not necessarily aligned with those of their member states. In detailed case studies of Britain, France and Germany the book examines how the preference structure of governments in the exercise of their promotion programmes contrasts with the policies enacted by international bureaucracies. Walzenbach's interdisciplinary approach specifies the conditions under which policy co-ordination can have detrimental effects and thus, usefully corrects the benign view held by most regime theorists about transaction-cost reducing and efficiency enhancing role of such arrangement.

World Trade Organisation (WTO) trade remedies (antidumping, anti-subsidy and safeguard agreements) are instruments used by WTO members to counter the economic injury caused by dumping, subsidies and the sudden and unforeseen increased imports. They are exceptions to the WTO principle of free trade and to the prohibition for States to react unilaterally to protect their own rights and interests, and as a result they have been accused by some as being the new tools of protectionism. This book analyses of the role and principles of WTO trade remedies in international law. In particular, it focuses on their aims, their structure, and their position within the WTO and more in general, the international legal system. The book considers trade remedies in light of fragmentation theories of international law and addresses the question how, and to what extent WTO law reflects and influences public international law.

This innovative multidisciplinary collection brings together the latest research on human rights issues in the Asian region, by leading scholars with a deep familiarity with the languages and cultures of the region. The contributors bring a range of disciplinary approaches, or 'ways of knowing' to the study of human rights: history, memory studies, gender and sexuality studies, cultural studies and translation studies. Issues canvassed in the book include linguistic rights, debates on prenatal testing, transnational campaigns for redress of past wrongs, campaigns for sexual rights, and modes of human rights advocacy in East and Southeast Asia. This book will be of interest to general and specialist readers in the fields of Asian Studies, cultural studies, gender and sexuality studies, legal studies and history. This book was published as a special issue of Asian Studies Review.

With the advancing globalization of the world economy, domestic economic regulations are becoming more and more subject to efforts at international harmonization. This book presents an analysis of this worldwide phenomenon from both a legal and a politico-economic perspective by focusing on (1) the backgrounds and objectives of international harmonization, (2) the negotiating processes involved, and (3) the impact of harmonization on domestic laws and their administration.
International harmonization is discussed in a wide range of cases including trade-related regulations, technical standards and food safety standards, intellectual property rights, labor standards, competition law and policy, financial regulations, and regulations concerning transnational economic crime. Drawing on a wide range of materials and applying a unified analytical framework based on theoretical as well as practical observations, the book surveys this much debated topic in a comprehensive and accessible way. It thus contributes to a better understanding of both the chances and the challenges of globalization and global governance today.

First published in 1999. The key to successful regional development is more a personality issue than a global one, contends social economist Dr. James Cecora. With a fresh new interdisciplinary approach, Cecora tackles traditional economic theory to show that a distinct type of individual, the 'innovative entrepreneur', can do more to secure economic stability in a particular region than any multinational corporation. Arguing that global economics have spiraled out of control, Cecora builds a case for supporting and promoting the development of entrepreneurs at the local and regional level. These individuals will, he says, work at strengthening the regional economy over the long term because of their permanent attachment to a region, as well as in vested self-interest. Cecora compares the personalities of corporate managers to self-starting entrepreneurs, drawing the conclusion that the risk-taking ability of entrepreneurial types prompts more creative thinking and regionally appropriate action and solutions. This willingness to try new approaches is often a key to success.

Is there an inherent conflict between competition and trade policies, or are the two policy areas complementing each other? The relationship between competition and trade policies, and the development of an effective competition policy for an integrated world economy, is an issue policy makers face in the mid-to-late-1990s. This book examines current debates around competition and trade policy interactions, and discusses the need for new policy initiatives in an international context. The papers in this collection are presented in five parts which discuss in turn: general principles and issues; network industries and telecommunications; European Economic Area policies, notably the initiative taken by the Commissioner for Competition, Karel van Miert, for developing an EU competition policy for the new trade order; and recent development policy aspects. The final part of this book contains background papers for panel discussions on vertical restraints and business perspectives, respectively, in an international trade and competition policy context.

The Handbook on International Trade Policy is an insightful and comprehensive reference tool focusing on trade policy issues in the era of globalization. Each specially commissioned chapter deals with important international trade issues, discusses the current literature on the subject, and explores major controversies. The Handbook also directs the interested reader to further sources of information. The expert contributors cover both traditional and more current concerns including: * history of thought on trade policy * the development of multilateral organizations such as the World Trade Organization * border restrictions and subsidies * regional trade agreements * trade and the environment * animal, plant and food safety measures * international protection of intellectual property and sanctions. Presenting a broad and state-of-the-art perspective on the topic, this highly accessible Handbook will prove an invaluable resource to researchers, academics, policymakers and practitioners concerned with international trade policy.

Series Information:
Routledge Studies in the Modern World Economy

Convergenomics is about the megatrends that are shaping how people behave and organizations work. In this insightful analysis, Sang Lee and David Olson describe how globalization, digitization, changing demographics, changing industry mix, deregulation and privatization, commoditization of processes, new value chains, emerging new economies, deteriorating environment, and cultural conflicts have led to what they define as a convergence revolution. Lee and Olson discuss this convergence revolution from the perspectives of technology, industry, knowledge, open-source networking and bio-artificial convergence, and they explain how human systems are transformed by what they have named convergenomics. Understanding convergenomics can lead to innovative strategic approaches and, the authors contend, more agile businesses are already employing these approaches to become and remain competitive and to generate greater value in a world radically changed by e-commerce. Business leaders and 'students' of strategy at all levels will learn from this book how revolutionary developments can be embraced rather than feared, and how technology that is potentially frightening in its complexity can be harnessed and used to enable productive collaboration and gain competitive advantage.

Free trade has always been a moral and political, as well as economic, programme. Although free traders call for the liberalization of the economy from governmental interference, it is understood that international exchange can only operate within a framework of the law. Defenders of free trade believe not only will it promote economic prosperity, but that it enhances worldwide peace and understanding by substituting commercial competition for the pursuit of national goals by military means. Protection, on the other hand, has been defended as safeguarding those vulnerable to the fluctuations of world markets. This collection of essays by international lawyers and moral philosophers arises from a multi-disciplinary conference to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the repeal of the Corn Laws in 1846. It examines legal, moral and political dimensions of free trade. Contributors explore issues such as: the ethics and rules of competition; the idea of global justice; the problem of international exploitation; the protection of the environment; the regulation of services; and international taxation and the justifications for the barriers to trade. The book seeks to provide an insight i

The mood of the international grain market changed remarkably in the decade before this book was originally published in 1986. In the early 1970s, which were years of buoyancy and high prices, the concern was with feeding the starving millions and subsequently, in the United states, with the use of the grain embargo weapon to put pressure on the Soviet Union. In the mid-1980s, after a long period in which the recession kept prices down, the climate was much gloomier. The book considers the state of the major supplier countries and their particular problems. It charts the changes in the market and discusses major issues of international concern. It concludes by surveying prospects for the market.

International agricultural trade regulation remains problematic despite the creation of the WTO and a specific Agreement on Agriculture in 1995. Fiona Smith challenges this orthodoxy and presents a new conceptual method by which the problem of international agricultural trade in the WTO can be understood. Attempts to revise the rules in the Doha Development Round of multilateral trade talks have repeatedly stalled as negotiators grapple with what is perceived to be the problem of international agricultural trade. Issues such as how best to address the contemporary challenges to market liberalisation whilst preserving the environment, difficulties of biofuels, development, human rights and the demands of the changing nature of global governance are all examined in this timely book. Challenging convention and introducing new concepts, Agriculture and the WTO will strongly appeal to academics working in the fields of international agricultural trade, international relations, international economic law, agriculture law and policy. It will also be warmly welcomed by policymakers and graduate students with a special interest in international agricultural trade.

As a participant in and negotiator of NAFTA and the World Trade Organization, Thomas A. Hockin provides a unique insider's look at the political challenges to free trade and U. S. trade policy. In this timely and important book, Hockin explores the fragile ecosystem of multinational trade alliances in the face of insurgent political protests from both the left and the right. The American Nightmare takes a close look at WTO obstacles such as the failure of member countries to follow dispute settlement arrangements; the conflict surrounding the membership of China; and, the mercurial administration of trade law in the U.S. Hockin makes a convincing case for the current incoherence of American trade policy, warning of a possible collapse of the world economy if the WTO's ability to settle disputes becomes further frustrated. With lucid analysis of the systemic problems involved in free trade and thoughtful possible solutions to them, The American Nightmare is a clarion call for policy makers and a thought provoking read for those of us on the sidelines.

This book furnishes a quick and clear exposition of the statutory and regulatory responsibilities of those participating in the sale, processing, and transportation of cargo shipped from the United States. It analyzes in detail the duties imposed by the Shipping Act of 1984 on those engaged in U.S. oceanborne trade.Vessel operators can learn about their agreement filing obligations, the scope of their tariffs, what practices are prohibited, the statutory protection in place against abuses by foreign countries, and the numerous governing regulations with which they must comply. Shippers will be informed about their legal obligations for freight charges, carrier services due them, how to obtain a refund or form a shipper's association, and their responsibilities under a shippers' credit agreement. For marine terminal operators, the book spells out the extent of the Federal Maritime Commission's jurisdiction, tariff filing requirements, authorized charges, and their areas of liability. Non-vessel-operating common carriers by water can ascertain which provisions of the 1984 Act govern their conduct, and how they can comply with the bonding requirement and co-loading rules.

The worldwide expansion of the tourism industry creates many encounters between global agents and local forces, yet the host-guest interaction is rarely considered from the point of view of the experience of work. This study documents and discusses such a global-local encounter, based on fieldwork carried out in hotels in Barbados and Malta. Insight is drawn froma a review of such issues as recruitment, promotion, redundancy, discipline, security, communication, expertise, total quality management iniatives, trade unionism and industrial action.