Sustainability Impact Assessment of a new WTO Round

ODI, in a consortium led by IDPM, Manchester, conducted a study of the potential impacts of tariff reductions under the WTO, in three sectors - textiles and clothing, pharmaceuticals and non-ferrous metals. The research reinforced the point that, while trade liberalisation offers potential benefits to developing countries as a whole, some countries (and some groups within every country) will suffer adjustment costs. The research identified, for each sector, the types of measures required to mitigate costs and to enhance potential benefits.