Rich countries have jealously guarded access to their markets. The agriculture and textiles sectors, in which poor countries are most competitive, remain subject to a prohibitive array of high and escalating tariffs, quotas, and seasonal restrictions. WTO patent rules are another example of protectionism. Industrialized countries have pushed through rules that extend to 20 years the standard period for patent protection. This will fuel the knowledge gap between rich and poor countries, inhibit technology transfer, and lead to many poor people suffering from treatable diseases because they cannot afford medicines.
Industrialized countries continue to subsidize and dump their agricultural exports.
World leaders must act to close the gap between their rhetoric and reality, and make trade work for the poor. OECD countries must also act swiftly to eliminate all forms of support for agricultural exports. Domestic agricultural subsidies should be redesigned so that they promote social and environmental objectives without damaging developing-country producers. The length and scope of patent protection should be reduced and redesigned to promote transfer of appropriate technology. Rich countries should provide greatly increased aid to build trade capacity and technical assistance to enable poor countries to formulate trade policy, negotiate, and enter into dispute settlement processes on an equal basis.