Publication
Title
The internationalization of production and the politics of compliance in WTO disputes
Author
Abstract
In this paper we seek to advance the debate on the conditions under which the WTO Dispute Settlement Body can bring about trade-liberalizing policy change in WTO members. Under what conditions do WTO members change domestic policies or measures that are challenged in WTO litigation? Starting from the assumption that policymakers are political-support maximizers who seek to avoid the mobilization of political enemies, we argue that the degree of integration in Global Value Chains (GVCs) of the economic sectors affected by a WTO dispute influences members propensity to change domestic policies when targeted in WTO litigation. The initiation of a WTO dispute against sectors highly integrated in GVCs engenders the emergence of a domestic coalition of pro-trade liberalization groups composed of exporters seeking to avoid the imposition of retaliatory measures and import-dependent firms wishing to exploit the opportunity to access cheaper imports. Under these circumstances, trade-liberalizing responses to WTO legal challenges are therefore more likely. We test this hypothesis by estimating a Cox proportional hazard model and find that GVCs positively impact states propensity to comply with the WTO dispute settlement panel rulings.
Language
English
Source (journal)
The review of international organizations. - Boston, Mass.
Publication
Boston, Mass. : 2018
ISSN
1559-7431
DOI
10.1007/S11558-017-9278-Z
Volume/pages
13 :1 (2018) , p. 49-75
ISI
000423840300003
Full text (Publisher's DOI)
Full text (open access)
Full text (publisher's version - intranet only)
UAntwerpen
Faculty/Department
Research group
Project info
International judicial politics: EU and US responses to WTO litigation.
Maintaining Multilateralism: The Politics of Dispute Initiation at the World Trade Organization.
Publication type
Subject
Law 
Affiliation
Publications with a UAntwerp address
External links
Web of Science
Record
Identifier
Creation 19.06.2017
Last edited 04.03.2024
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