Manoeuvring at the Margins
Constraints Faced by Small States in International Trade Negotiations
Of enduring concern for small states are the numerous constraints they face in international trade negotiations. This study provides evidence that small states can still have an important influence over the outcomes of negotiations if they successfully identify and tackle these underlying constraints.
Building on existing scholarship, Manoeuvring at the Margins is the first attempt to thoroughly analyse the views of representatives from small states on the constraints they face in this area. The authors, led by Dr Ngaire Woods and Dr Carolyn Deere Birkbeck of the University of Oxford, highlight three areas where small states can maximise their potential influence: establishing an effective negotiating team by strengthening human resources; harnessing the support of civil society and the private sector; and improving negotiation strategies. The recommendations they provide will be useful in assisting trade policy-makers in small states to achieve greater success in WTO and other trade arenas.
Contents
Foreword
Acronyms and Abbreviations
Summary
1. Introduction: The Scope and Methods of the Study
2. The Constraints Faced by Small States: A Review
3. Building an Effective Negotiating Team
4. Harnessing the Support of Civil Society and the Private Sector
5. Leveraging Limited Bargaining Power
6. The Way Forward: Prioritising and Tackling Constraints
Annexes
1 List of Small States
2. Survey Results
3. Interview Questions
4. List of People Interviewed
Bibliography
Index
About the contributors
Emily Jones (Author)
Emily Jones is a project associate for the Global Economic Governance Programme’s Global Trade Governance Project.Carolyn Deere-Birkbeck (Author)
Carolyn Deere-Birkbeck is Senior Researcher and Trade Project Director, Global Economic Governance Programme, University College, Oxford.Ngaire Woods (Author)
Ngaire Woods is Professor of International Political Economy, and Director of the Global Economic Governance Programme, University College, Oxford.Reviews
‘… an interesting, ambitious, timely and useful study…[it] asks good questions and contributes original evidence from three methods: an online survey, semi-structured interviews, and country case studies. I found what the respondents said, and the report concluded, to be revealing and valuable.’
John Odell, University of Southern California, and author of Negotiating Trade: Developing Countries in the WTO and NAFTA
'Very useful to those involved in funding and providing assistance to small developing states to improve their trade negotiating capacities.'
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