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Setting the Negotiation Table: The Choice of Institutions for Trade Disputes
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Setting the Negotiation Table:
The Choice of Institutions for Trade Disputes
Christina L. Davis
Department of Politics
Princeton University
∗
Abstract
International Relations theory has focused on the evolution of international insti-
tutions and their impact on state behavior. Less understood is the dynamic behindstate choices to use an institution. In this paper, I examine how interest groups in-fluence the decision to negotiate trade problems at the bilateral level, as part of anadjudication process, or as an issue in a comprehensive trade round. The differentvenues available for trade negotiations vary in terms of the issues, rules, and actors.Drawing on several empirical cases, I present a framework to understand the choice ofnegotiation forum. Interest groups on both sides have preferences for the flexibility,scope, and timing of liberalization, and governments choose the forum that allowsthem to address interest group concerns as well as diplomatic goals. I argue thatthe choice of negotiation forum depends upon the relative balance between interestgroup pressure in the two countries. I conclude that this dynamic pushes the mostdifficult trade issues into WTO dispute adjudication or trade rounds, while easiertrade problems are dealt with in bilateral or regional negotiations.
Prepared for delivery at the 2003 Annual Meeting of the American
Political Science Association, Philadelphia, August 28 – 31, 2003.
Copyright by The American Political Science Association.
∗
Assistant Professor, Department of Politics and Woodrow Wilson School of International Affairs,
Princeton University. Address: Center for International Studies, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ08544. Phone: 609–258–0177. Fax: 609–258–5349. e-mail: ## email not listed ##
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| | Authors: Davis, Christina. |
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Setting the Negotiation Table:
The Choice of Institutions for Trade Disputes
Christina L. Davis
Department of Politics
Princeton University
∗
Abstract
International Relations theory has focused on the evolution of international insti-
tutions and their impact on state behavior. Less understood is the dynamic behind
state choices to use an institution. In this paper, I examine how interest groups in-
fluence the decision to negotiate trade problems at the bilateral level, as part of an
adjudication process, or as an issue in a comprehensive trade round. The different
venues available for trade negotiations vary in terms of the issues, rules, and actors.
Drawing on several empirical cases, I present a framework to understand the choice of
negotiation forum. Interest groups on both sides have preferences for the flexibility,
scope, and timing of liberalization, and governments choose the forum that allows
them to address interest group concerns as well as diplomatic goals. I argue that
the choice of negotiation forum depends upon the relative balance between interest
group pressure in the two countries. I conclude that this dynamic pushes the most
difficult trade issues into WTO dispute adjudication or trade rounds, while easier
trade problems are dealt with in bilateral or regional negotiations.
Prepared for delivery at the 2003 Annual Meeting of the American
Political Science Association, Philadelphia, August 28 – 31, 2003.
Copyright by The American Political Science Association.
∗
Assistant Professor, Department of Politics and Woodrow Wilson School of International Affairs,
Princeton University. Address: Center for International Studies, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ
08544. Phone: 609–258–0177. Fax: 609–258–5349. e-mail: ## email not listed ##
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