CPD Policy Brief 9
WTO MC11 and Interests of Bangladesh as an LDC
The Eleventh Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Oraganization (WTO-MC11) took place in Buenos Aires, Argentina on 10-13 December 2017. Although the WTO process had lost momentum after the Bali MC9, there is no denying the fact that Least Developed Countries (LDCs), continue to have a high stake in a rule-based multilateral system (Rahman & Jahan, 2015). A globally enforced multilateral trading system, with its rules, regulations, disciplines, flexibilities and derogations, is preferred by the LDCs as it can better safeguard their interests compared to a system where the rules are set without consultation, and enforced without concern about the developmental interests of developing countries. The present Policy Brief is based on a study titled Upcoming WTO MC11 and Interests of Bangladesh as an LDC which was carried out by the CPD with a view to identifying the offensive and defensive interests of Bangladesh as an LDC in the context of then upcoming WTO-MC11. The paper provided important inputs for various events in connection with the Ministerial Conferences in which CPD professionals had participated, both in Bangladesh and in the sidelines of the MC11. The Policy Brief captures the key arguments and recommendations put forward by the CPD in its aforesaid report.
Author: Estiaque Bari
Publication period: May 2018
Download Policy Brief 9