The latest failure has sparked-off more debate on how countries like India should behave and act during trade negotiations. 
Those who still feel nostalgic about the Nehruvian era (when non-alignment was a gleam in the eyes), insist that India and other countries should band together in groupings like G-20 and present a united front to the First World. There is this naïve belief that a strong brotherhood of Third World nations can compel the developed nations to see reason and accept a more equitable trade regime for the world. Unfortunately, geopolitical and strategic realities work against such an Utopian solution. In the real world, nation states pursue their own strategic interests and don’t care much for blocs and groups, if they can get their way through other means.
The best example is China. Until
recently, it was not even a member of the WTO. Yet, when it comes to trade, it has been rapidly emerging as a 800 pound gorilla that simply cannot be ignored. Clever negotiations and a mix of carrot and stick, coupled with favourable policies, have ensured that China runs a trade surplus of close to $200 billion with the United States. China didn’t achieve this success by screaming hoarse about Third World solidarity at every available public forum. Chinese policy makers negotiated quietly from behind the scenes and achieved the best possible results.
Commerce Minister Kamal Nath could do well to absorb a few lessons from his Chinese counterparts. India will be better off if he talks less about Third World solidarity and negotiates hard.
Those who still feel nostalgic about the Nehruvian era (when non-alignment was a gleam in the eyes), insist that India and other countries should band together in groupings like G-20 and present a united front to the First World. There is this naïve belief that a strong brotherhood of Third World nations can compel the developed nations to see reason and accept a more equitable trade regime for the world. Unfortunately, geopolitical and strategic realities work against such an Utopian solution. In the real world, nation states pursue their own strategic interests and don’t care much for blocs and groups, if they can get their way through other means.The best example is China. Until
recently, it was not even a member of the WTO. Yet, when it comes to trade, it has been rapidly emerging as a 800 pound gorilla that simply cannot be ignored. Clever negotiations and a mix of carrot and stick, coupled with favourable policies, have ensured that China runs a trade surplus of close to $200 billion with the United States. China didn’t achieve this success by screaming hoarse about Third World solidarity at every available public forum. Chinese policy makers negotiated quietly from behind the scenes and achieved the best possible results.Commerce Minister Kamal Nath could do well to absorb a few lessons from his Chinese counterparts. India will be better off if he talks less about Third World solidarity and negotiates hard.
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Source: IIPM Editorial, 2006
An IIPM and Management Guru Prof. Arindam Chaudhuri's Initiative
Read more:-
Source: IIPM Editorial, 2006
An IIPM and Management Guru Prof. Arindam Chaudhuri's Initiative
Read more:-
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