Title: Causes and consequences of international trade conflict over agricultural biotechnology

Authors: Thomas Bernauer

Addresses: ETH Zurich, Center for Comparative and International Studies, ETH Zentrum, SEI, CH-8092 Zurich, Switzerland

Abstract: This article shows why and how differences across countries in agri-biotech regulation create tensions in the world trading system. It explores how these tensions could develop into full-blown trade conflicts. It also assesses the consequences of such trade conflicts for biotechnology and for developing countries. Stripped of all analytical caveats, the prognosis is rather pessimistic. The potential for escalation is high and the implications of escalation for agri-biotechnology as such, and for developing countries, are bound to be negative.

Keywords: agricultural biotechnology; food biotechnology; international trade conflict; politics; regulations; developing countries.

DOI: 10.1504/IJBT.2005.006442

International Journal of Biotechnology, 2005 Vol.7 No.1/2/3, pp.7 - 28

Published online: 10 Mar 2005 *

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