Is Plurilateral the Way Forward?

Many trade experts have suggested ways to move forward following the deadlock in the Doha Round. Chiefly among them is for smaller groups of countries to negotiate and implement policies that they can then extend to other WTO members as and when they are ready. The simple argument behind this proposal is that agreement can be reached faster and easier among smaller number of negotiating countries. The question is: can multilateralization really be achieved at faster rate via this proposal, as is suggested, or is it going to further burden the already complex environment? In other words, is this a building or stumbling block?

Let me give a negative perspective of this proposal. When countries negotiate, they do so from their own perspectives, taking into account their own interests. One can argue that although agreement can be reached more efficiently, the contents are probably narrower in a sense that it takes into account only the interests of the negotiating countries. If this agreement is to be eventually extended to other WTO members, will they take it at face value? Well, perhaps not since their interests have most likely not been included in the first place. When the time comes, these members will want to amend some parts of the agreement before they will subscribe to it. However, will the original negotiating countries agree since they will have to concede on some points.