Economic negotiations and institutions are vital to international politics. The General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT), the predecessor to the World Trade Organization (WTO), was formed after World War II, to arbitrate on international trade issues.
GATT was formed to enable countries to lower their tariffs and other trade barriers, which impacted negatively on free trade. The organization had to deal with political pressure caused by capitalist and communist countries, which wanted to dominate global trade and politics.
Since then, international trade negotiations have become more important because they help to protect weak countries from unfavorable economic policies of powerful countries.
International trade terms which are mutually agreed upon by all WTO member states influence global politics (McKenzie 81). Countries are driven by their own sovereign interests to transact with other countries and this is mainly influenced by global politics.
International trade and relations are affected by different interests which countries have that motivate them to transact with other countries. In any country, economic prosperity can only succeed if there is political stability and security.
International trade rules have an impact on political stability across the world. They determine how valuable resources in different regions are harnessed, which affects social, cultural and political issues in different regions.
Since World War II, international institutions have played an effective role in influencing global politics (McKenzie, “GATT–EEC Collision” 230). The WTO has had to deal with a lot of trade disagreements between different regional blocs.
Many countries from Europe and North America have been accused of unfair trade policies which make their goods more competitive in the world market.
The WTO has found itself in a tight spot in its quest to make a favorable global environment that favors equal participation by all countries in international trade.
The issue of trade liberalization has continued to dominate political and economic forums in different parts of the world. The move towards regional integration has given some countries more economic muscle in international trade.
This makes it easy for them to negotiate favorable trade and economic policies, which enable their exports to perform well in the global market.
After World War II, major world powers wanted to strengthen their dominance in global trade as a result of differences between capitalist and communist economies. Many member states had to negotiate to reach agreements over different critical issues (Ziring, Riggs and Plano 114).
European integration made it possible for states that were part of the European Economic Commission to have a stronger voice in global trade affairs. GATT had to organize forums in which liberalization and elimination of trade barriers were discussed.
Major concessions in international trade have been achieved through negotiations between different countries. Many countries are active in regional trading blocs which give them more leverage as they seek to achieve favorable economic terms.
Globalization has made many political, economic and social systems in the world to be more connected than ever before. This has been made possible by technological developments, which have made it possible for global commerce to flourish.
Many governments have become aware of opportunities that exist beyond their borders which has encouraged them to introduce favorable policies (Gilpin 75).
Many countries have lowered their taxes, introduced flexible labor laws and reduced regulation of capital markets to make their industries more competitive internationally.
Many countries are encouraged to establish positive links with other countries to enable their economies to achieve positive growth.
Works Cited
Gilpin, Robert. Global Political Economy: Understanding the International Economic Order. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 2001. Print.
McKenzie, Francine. “GATT and the Cold War.” Journal of Cold War Studies 10.3 (2008): 78-109. Print.
– – -.“The GATT-EEC Collision: The Challenge of Regional Trade Blocs to the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade, 1950-67.” The International History Review 32.2 (2010): 229-252. Print.
Ziring, Lawrence, Robert E. Riggs, and Jack C. Plano. The United Nations: International Organization and World Politics. San Francisco: Thomson Wadsworth, 2005. Print.