This book shows how domestic political institutions and the lack of time pressure have an impact on negotiations at the WTO. It provides detailed information on WTO ministerial meetings as well as on the political economy of trade policy in the EU, U.S., Brazil, and Australia.

'This important book addresses a question of utmost relevance for academics and policy-makers alike: Why is it that multilateral trade negotiations are so protracted even though trade liberalization benefits everybody in the end? Eugénia da Conceição-Heldt argues that domestic political institutions and the lack of time pressures combine to produce inefficient results. A must-read for anybody interested in trade negotiations!' Thomas Risse, Free University Berlin, Germany

Autorentext
EUGÉNIA DA CONCEIÇÃO Guest Professor in International Relations at the Free University Berlin, Germany. Her previous appointments include the Humboldt University Berlin, European University Institute in Florence, Italy, and Carleton University, Canada. Her areas of expertise include the European Union, Negotiation Analysis, International Political Economy, and Comparative Politics.

Inhalt
Introduction PART I: SETTING THE STAGE Framework for Analysis of Negotiations Multilateral Agriculture Trade Regime PART II: DOMESTIC INSTITUTIONS US Trade Politics EU Trade Politics Brazilian Trade Politics Australian Trade Politics PART III: NEGOTIATING TRADE LIBERALIZATION Seattle Ministerial Conference 1999 Doha Ministerial Conference 2001 Cancun Ministerial Conference 2003 Hong Kong Ministerial Conference 2005 Geneva Informal Meeting 2006 Conclusion