MJIEL Vol 10 Issue 1 2013 - Article 6

Theory of Justice and Asymmetric Trade Liberalization:
Limited Reciprocity as a Rule

S. M. Hassan Razavi*

ABSTRACT: Following the establishment of the WTO and the emerging practical impact of the Uruguay Round, the distributional concerns have gained more importance and international trade has played a significant role in increasing and decreasing the problem of inequality by tackling the issue through the areas of comparative advantage and competitiveness. Therefore, the impact of the trade forum on other global problems necessitates the application of the theory of justice and its principles to international trade. While the WTO, through this approach, constitutes part of the global governance structure which provides the necessary basis for the application of the principles of justice, the requirements of the second principle of justice on an international scale; i.e. the International Difference Principle, advocates the establishment of an unequal treatment mechanism between unequal members. This paper looks at the International Difference Principle and studies the ‘Special and Differential Treatment’ as the main instrument of the trade forum in addressing the concept of unequal treatment between the unequal Members of WTO.


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