© united nations development programme trade on human terms transforming trade for human...

© United Nations Development Programme

TRADE ON HUMAN TERMSTransforming Trade for Human

Development in Asia and the Pacific Asia-Pacific Human Development Report 2006


CONTENTS

Using international trade to promote human development

The Asia-Pacific experience

Making agricultural trade work for the poor

Adjusting to a new era for textiles and clothing

Selling services across frontiers

Trade opportunities for the poorest countries

An eight-point agenda for change


USING INTERNATIONAL TRADE TO PROMOTE HUMAN DEVELOPMENT

Trade is not an end in itself, but a means toward the goal of better lives for all


USING INTERNATIONAL TRADE TO PROMOTE HUMAN DEVELOPMENT


THE ASIA-PACIFIC EXPERIENCE

At the forefront of globalization

Sharp growth in exports, but also

in imports

Rapid decline in poverty, but a

rise in inequality


THE ASIA-PACIFIC EXPERIENCE

Many of the open economies of Asia-Pacific, particularly in East Asia, are creating far

fewer jobs and experiencing “jobless growth”


MAKING AGRICULTURAL TRADE WORK FOR THE POOR

With trade expansion, Asia-Pacific has become an overall food importer after

being an exporter for many years


MAKING AGRICULTURAL TRADE WORK FOR THE POOR

Poor countriescontinue to

face determinedand unfair

protectionism inglobal agricultural

markets

New focus isnecessary onagricultural development

to defend rural livelihoods

and promote food security


ADJUSTING TO A NEW ERA FOR TEXTILES AND CLOTHING

In the new quota-free era for textiles and clothing, Asia-Pacific has gained overall, but most of these gains have been pre-empted by China and India


ADJUSTING TO A NEW ERA FOR TEXTILES AND CLOTHING

If countries are to survive in the post-quota era, they will have to become more competitive


SELLING SERVICES ACROSS FRONTIERS

What was previously non-tradable

has become tradable

Short-term labour migration,business outsourcing

and special-interest tourismhave great potential to

give people unique opportunitiesto escape poverty


SELLING SERVICES ACROSS FRONTIERS

Asia-Pacific is in the forefront of trade in services, but firm and wide-ranging action must be taken to ensure that dynamic sectors fulfill their potential

for promoting human development


TRADING OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE LEAST DEVELOPED COUNTRIES

Asia-Pacific’s poorest countries have been keen

globalizers. But they face tough terms for accession to the World Trade Organization and are being

out-competed and overwhelmed by exports from China, while also deriving few

benefits from selling their exports in the region’s largest

market


The poorest countries require fairer treatment by the global trade regime, redirected aid for trade and a wider range of exports in order to promote

better lives for all

TRADING OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE LEAST DEVELOPED COUNTRIES


1. Invest for competitiveness

2. Adopt strategic trade policies

3. Restore a focus on agriculture

4. Combat jobless growth

6. Maintain stable exchange rates

7. Persist with multilateralism

8. Cooperate with neighbours

TRADE FOR HUMAN DEVELOPMENT: AN EIGHT-POINT AGENDA

5. Prepare a new tax regime


TRADE ON HUMAN TERMS

Asia-Pacific has embraced free trade, but free trade will not embrace the poor unless countries pursue a

bold new policy agenda – harnessing economic growth to promote human development

© united nations development programme trade on human terms transforming trade for human...

Documents

human development trade

human development slide

agricultural development

international trade

forefront of trade

poverty slide

asiapacific experience

frontiers asiapacific