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Using a novel dataset we examine the pricing behavior of Indian exporters, in particular looking at the relationship between export prices and the quality of imported inputs that firms use, conditioning on firm capability (productivity). Exporting firms that directly import are different in important ways from exporters that do not import directly. Among directly importing exporters, higher quality (higher price) imports are associated with higher quality (higher price) exports. In this respect, Indian exporters behave similarly to other developing country exporters, offering suggestive evidence of the importance for export success of access to high-quality imports. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a National Association of Manufacturers perspective on manufactures liberalization in the U.S. It provides a background on the association. It presents information on the negotiations Doha Development Agenda of the Doha Round. It provides details of the Non-Agricultural Market Access negotiations. The association believes the task of obtaining substantial cuts in foreign tariffs on U.S. manufactured goods is achievable by focusing on 23 trading partners.

The article presents a European Commission (EC) perspective on manufactures liberalization. It comments on assistance for trade adjustment. It outlines the objectives of the EC in the Doha Round.

This article focuses especially on the positions that the developing countries should take in their own interests on the issues of manufactures liberalization and administered protection. A series of recommendations are set forth with supporting argument: (1-2) for market access, both developed and developing countries should commit to reducing their most restrictive trade barriers, using a formula approach with limited exceptions; (3) negotiated tariff reductions should be phased in over a period of ten years in equal incremental installments; (4) adjustment assistance should be provided by a system of wage insurance and subsidized by transfers from developed countries; (5) the rules for safeguards, countervailing duties, and anti-dumping should be redrafted to focus their use on cases of legitimate economic justification and to discourage their use as protectionist devices; (6) the U.S. and EU should devise and implement a program of comprehensive but declining import restrictions on imports from China consistent with China's terms of WTO accession and eliminated by 2008; (7) WTO rules governing Preferential Trading Arrangements should be revised to insure that they contribute to the liberalization and simplification of the multilateral trading system; (8) preference granting countries should provide assistance to countries experiencing the erosion of preferences due to multilateral liberalization; (9) the WTO system of dispute resolution should remain in place; and (10) special and differential assistance, if granted, should not exempt countries from the provisions for their own market liberalization. Developing countries should participate actively and constructively in the negotiations to further their own interests. Developing countries may be at a disadvantage in the negotiating process, due to their resource limitations and inexperience in negotiations. Offsetting such disadvantages, however, are their large numbers and the compelling case for meeting their needs. What is needed is leadership and cooperation as for example with the Group of 20 and other coalitions together with a willingness to listen and be flexible on the part of their developed country counterparts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a People's Republic of China perspective on manufactures liberalization. It presents information on the Doha Work Program endorsed by the World Trade Organization Members in July 2004. The key issues for fulfilling the goal of establishing full modalities for the Hong Kong Ministerial Meeting are listed.