The EU and world trade

The paradox of trade policy is that, at a time when political leaders in most parts of the world have accepted the intellectual case for trade liberalisation more thoroughly than ever before, public opposition to free trade is on the rise. Most politicians are keen to advance the cause of free trade because they understand that it brings about economic growth. But they know that they must also address the legitimate concerns of developing countries about the workings of the world trading system, while simultaneously trying to respond to domestic criticism by those whose interests may suffer at the hands of market liberalisation.
Richard Cunningham is a senior partner at the Washington law firm of Steptoe & Johnson, Peter Lichtenbaum is also a partner at Steptoe & Johnson and Julie Wolf reported on the European Union for the Wall Street Journal Europe and The Guardian from 1986-1999.