무역과 경쟁의 연계

Abstract

If a linkage between trade and competition is unavoidable, what forum should deal with the issue? Suggestions have been made to establish a closer link between trade and competition, in particular as regards the operation of the WTO system of multilateral rules and disciplines for international trade. A decision to introduce additional objectives, to negotiate new provisions and mechanism would imply the existence of sufficient political will among WTO members. The decision is not easy. Many competition issues already arise in existing WTO agreements. Some of the issues just discussed require mechanisms to induce competition among suppliers, but not necessarily national antitrust enforcement. Others require international cooperation and action outside the WTO. In several areas what is needed are traditional GATT-type market access commitments, complemented by a willingness to address entry restrictions and market distortions that are supported by or the result of government policies. To some extent existing rules could also usefully be clarified to facilitate the use of the WTO as an instrument to ban discriminatory conditions of competition for foreign products.