Food Crises and the WTO World Trade Forum [Hardcover]

In a world challenged by both food and financial crises, this book re-assesses the WTO's role in global food security.This book investigates the relevance of the WTO's Doha Round at times when both the food and financial crises are affecting developing countries. Bringing together leading experts in economic development, trade and law, it sheds new light on the role of international agricultural trade and the WTO in food security.This book investigates the relevance of the WTO's Doha Round at times when both the food and financial crises are affecting developing countries. Bringing together leading experts in economic development, trade and law, it sheds new light on the role of international agricultural trade and the WTO in food security.The food and financial crises of 2008 and 2009 have pushed millions more people into poverty and hunger, while changing the parameters of international trade. Both crises have also challenged the fundamentals of WTO rules regulating agriculture, which had been designed to combat trade distortions due to artificially low-priced food commodities. This collection of essays examines to what extent the multilateral trading system contributes to food security in today's volatile markets. Bringing together a renowned group of expert economists, lawyers, environmental and development specialists, it offers a fresh and multi-dimensional perspective combining a strong economic analysis with a comprehensive legal assessment of the interface between food security and international trade regulation. Together, the contributions provide concrete policy recommendations on how the WTO could play a positive role in preventing or mitigating future food crises and promote global food security.1. Introduction: food crises and the WTO Bari_ Karapinar; Part I. Economics of the Food Crisis: 2. The food price crisis, poverty and agricultural trade policy Will Martin and Maros Ivanic; 3. Globalisation of agriculture and food crises: then and now Eugenio D?l£Q