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Patterns of Representation in WTO Committee Chairs, 1995–2012

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 October 2014

KENT JONES  and
YUNWEI GAI
KENT JONES*
Affiliation:
Economics Division, Babson College, Babson Park, MA
YUNWEI GAI
Affiliation:
Economics Division, Babson College, Babson Park, MA
*
*(Corresponding author) Email: [email protected]
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Abstract

This paper sets out to examine the pattern of WTO committee chair appointments by nationality since the WTO's founding in 1995. Chairs of the General Council (GC), subsidiary and negotiating committees play important roles in the outcome of trade negotiations and in administrative and implementation issues in Geneva. The GC selects most committee chairs, and must consider the balance of member representation and the quality of the candidates in its choices. Regression results indicate that the selection of a chair by nationality generally reflects the country's mission size in Geneva, the country's years of experience as a WTO member, and its economic interests in trade. The experience of individuals and continuity in committee leadership also appear to play important roles. Among developing countries, emerging markets (EMs) tend to have the largest proportional representation. The GC thus appears to follow a human capital model of chair selection, geographical constraints and especially development status balance considerations. Continued investments among all WTO members, but especially EM and other developing countries, in WTO representation and leadership capacity will be required in order to promote multilateral trade liberalization in the future.

Type
Review Article
Information
World Trade Review , Volume 14 , Issue 3 , July 2015 , pp. 419 - 450
Copyright
Copyright © Kent Jones and Yunwei Gai 2014 

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