Like all promoters of public policy, and more specifically progressive public policy, there is a idea that there will be consequences. Both unseen and accounted for. The WTO is an international organization tasked as a liberalizing force across the globe. It is unimpeachable that positive good has happened, with increasing numbers of free trade agreements being crafted during the tenure of the WTO in its existence. As the author tells, there should be a recognition for the unintended consequences of the portion of free(r) trade across the globe. While there is positive change in the sense that a more robust system of dispute resolution exists within the WTO, it should be noted that the far-reaching consequences are not always as apparent when an organization with little resources is tasked with ensuring their own survival when paired against such larger multinational corporations that are frequently involved in these disputes. This complex is where many of the problems are solved by the ideals of not just free trade, but fair trade. The latter idea ensures that there are considerations made for all participants no matter the status or size of each of them. There is great and understandable recognition that the body of work surrounding the practice of regulating international trade is an incredibly complex and often impossible task in some circumstances. However, just recognizing and highlighting when the ideals of the liberalization of trade go awry can help to reduce the frequency by which there are so often people, organizations, and often entire nations that feel left behind in the globalized community.
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