The reality is more complicated however. If trade liberalisation gives more power to monopolies, then consumers eventually stand to lose. Much of the trade liberalisation of the last two decades is based on the hope that agricultural production in developing countries will switch to high-value export crops, enabling them to import food. Agriculture is the main source of livelihood for hundreds of millions of people in developing countries. If small-scale farmers are outcompeted without an alternative source of livelihood, availability of cheap imports is of no help.
Trade liberalisation is only one factor exacerbating problems for the poor in many countries.
Yet liberalisation is a policy choice. It is not inevitable. All rights reserved. This limitation includes incorporation into a database, distribution via Usenet News, bulletin board systems, mailing lists, print media or broadcast.