WTO and the Dynamics of Free Trade: The Challenges of International Trade Law in a Divided Economic World

Abstract

The relationship between free trade, globalisation, global poverty and global inequality for the past decades has generated interests from academics, free trade activists, public financial institutions like the WTO, the World Bank, the IMF, and the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). Consequently, there has being divergent views and conclusions on whether free trade and globalisation actually benefit all countries of the world especially the developing world. This paper will examine the intent of global free trade agenda and how it affects the contemporary International market interaction between developed and developing economies. The paper will explore International trade obstacles, articulate policies that will maximize developing countries competitiveness, increased connectivity, improved trade access to markets and advocate ways to facilitate their participation in the global economy.