Understandings of the relationships between international trade and poverty reduction have changed considerably over time, and at any given time have been influenced by ideological predispositions and to some extent intellectual discipline.

This first part of this section of the report will attempt to establish some basic conceptual principles for the analysis of trade-poverty links. This involves first reviewing the various definitions of poverty that may be adopted; and then outlining the ways in which the specific links between trade and poverty reduction may be conceived and tested. The second part of this section then explores the likely poverty implications of likely Doha-induced policy changes in selected key aspects (namely agriculture; manufacturing – with an emphasis upon textiles and garments; services – with an emphasis upon Mode 4; and TRIPS – with an emphasis on public health implications).

Tim Conway