Page 252 - Communication Cultural and Media Studies The Key Concepts

WORLD TRADE ORGANISATION

prosperity due to previous economic regimes of domestic protection-
ism. Due to WTO membership, developing countries may be
restricted from instituting economic policies that are essential in order
to move them beyond their pre-industrial status. Compliance with
some WTO free trade measures may in fact be increasing the gap
between rich and poor countries.
Free trade agreements are placing newpressures upon cultural
policies in a number of countries. As signatories or WTO members,
governments are finding that some existing policies have been made
redundant by international trade commitments.
In December 2001 China joined the WTO. The effect of this event
on world trade, and the international dialogue between China and the
hitherto Anglophone, American-dominated world of culture, media
and communication, are going to be one of the most important and
interesting developments of the twenty-first century.

WORLD WIDE WEB see Internet

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