This book analyses one of the most controversial areas in the political economy of international trade, namely the issues surrounding the creation of new 'trade rules'. Various concerns are addressed, including the environment, labour standards, intellectual property rights, trade facilitation, competition policy, investment and government procurement, to many conventional trade topics including the trade and development linkage.

Nanda combines theoretical analysis with valuable insights derived from interactions with trade negotiators, politicians and activists, arguing for a dynamic policy framework, particularly in developing countries, with regular upgrading. He questions the effectiveness of the current global trade order in promoting development, highlighting not only the inability of conventional economics to capture the reality of international trade but also the neglect of some basic principles of economics. Nanda also argues that the WTO is not the right forum for addressing development issues because trade liberalization has traditionally been its objective.