Trade and Globalization

Overview:

Although 'globalization' has become a controversial buzzword in the past few years, international trade has been an important part of the world economy for a very long time. The 'opening up' or 'liberalization' of most country's domestic markets to trade has occurred gradually over the past 50 years, in large part due to the success of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT), which has now become institutionalized as the World Trade Organization (WTO). Access to other markets brings opportunities, but it also creates vulnerabilities like any competitive market. As trade becomes more open, there will be winners and losers among the producers and consumers in participating (and non-participating) countries. Differences amoung countries in their health, safety, environmnetal and labor standards are also sources of contention, because they are sometimes perceived as unfair sources of competitive advantage, or because of perceived pressures to harmonize standards and policies across nations. {more}

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
	Isn't trade unfair when foreign workers are paid such low wages?
	Isn't the US trade deficit proof that our trade agreements aren't benefiting us?
	Has NAFTA been good or bad for the US, and Oregon's, economy?
Other Resources and Internet Links
	The US Trade Representative's mission
	Globalization: Threat or Opportunity?(IMF)
	OREGON'S FUTURE: A Forum on International Trade(IMF)
Publications, Presentations and Working Papers
	WTO, NAFTA and Oregon (by Barbara Dudley)[PDF]
	NAFTA and WTO are good for Oregon (by Ray Mikesell)[PDF]