Aid for Trade a wider scope: interview with Ambassador Mia Horn at Rantzien, chair, WTO Aid for Trade Task Force.

• Date: 01 October 2006
• Author: Domeisen, Natalie,Hulm, Peter
• Published date: 01 October 2006
• Author: Domeisen, Natalie

Go beyond trade policy when addressing what you need to improve your country's trade performance, recommends the Aid for Trade Task Force.

Q Is Aid for Trade worth it for developing countries?

A From the development standpoint--which is my background--Aid for Trade is essential. For some countries, market access is not enough; they need parallel support. An important achievement of the Task Force is that the international community now accepts that some countries cannot be real actors on the trade scene if they do not have roads to take goods to ports, laboratories and so forth.

There may be short-term costs to opening up trade under WTO rules, too. Studies show that a few countries risk becoming short-term net losers, without help to adjust to open markets and new rules.

Q Is there a shift in thinking about Aid for Trade?

A Task Force discussions have helped to raise awareness and connect decision-makers in different circles. There is growing insight in development circles that trade could be a very important tool for development, and that donors and international agencies must do more to link development aid to trade...