Background Paper of the Task Force on Open and Rule-Based Trading System

The Background Paper privides a preliminary overview of existing knowledge and scopes out the questions addressed by the Task Force on Open and Rule-Based Trading System. It examines six areas of particular interest and/or concern to developing countries: market access for agriculture and industrial goods, services, the movement of natural persons, intellectual property rights, "behind-the-borders" issues and financial issues. Conclusions and recommendations on these topics are also provided.