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Joining the WTO: Why Does It Take So Long?

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  • Kent Jones
  • Yunwei Gai

Abstract

The WTO aspires to universal membership, but the process of joining has become very lengthy and many countries have faced particularly difficult and prolonged negotiations. The WTO applies a detailed and legalistic approach to accession, due to its accumulation of policy coverage over the years and the enforcement powers of the Dispute Settlement Understanding. In WTO accession cases, WTO incumbent members appear to have a superior bargaining position. At the same time, applicant countries appear to differ in their capability or willingness to gather information and institute the many reforms required to conclude the accession negotiation. Based on the record of completed and ongoing accession negotiations, the present study uses an endurance model to identify the factors that determine the probability of an applicant’s joining in a given month. In addition to the number of completed accessions, World Bank indexes of “government effectiveness” have a particularly strong influence on the duration of the accession process. In view of the difficult cases remaining in order to complete universal WTO membership, the authors propose a broader approach to WTO membership and more flexibility in accession requirements. Copyright Springer Science+Business Media New York 2013

Suggested Citation

  • Kent Jones & Yunwei Gai, 2013. "Joining the WTO: Why Does It Take So Long?," Open Economies Review, Springer, vol. 24(4), pages 695-716, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:openec:v:24:y:2013:i:4:p:695-716
    DOI: 10.1007/s11079-012-9262-4
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Alavi, S. Jalal, 2010. "Letter to the Editor," World Trade Review, Cambridge University Press, vol. 9(2), pages 389-390, April.
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    4. Zdenek Drabek & Marc Bacchetta, 2004. "Tracing the Effects of WTO Accession on Policy‐making in Sovereign States: Preliminary Lessons from the Recent Experience of Transition Countries," The World Economy, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 27(7), pages 1083-1125, July.
    5. World Trade Organization,, 2008. "A Handbook on Accession to the WTO," Cambridge Books, Cambridge University Press, number 9780521425940.
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    7. Jones, Kent, 2009. "The political economy of WTO accession: the unfinished business of universal membership," World Trade Review, Cambridge University Press, vol. 8(2), pages 279-314, April.
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    Cited by:

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    WTO membership; WTO accession; Time to event; Cox proportional hazards model; F13; F42; F53;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • F13 - International Economics - - Trade - - - Trade Policy; International Trade Organizations
    • F42 - International Economics - - Macroeconomic Aspects of International Trade and Finance - - - International Policy Coordination and Transmission
    • F53 - International Economics - - International Relations, National Security, and International Political Economy - - - International Agreements and Observance; International Organizations

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