Trade and International Labour Standards: Issues and Debates Over a Social Clause

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Abstract
The first ministerial meeting of the World Trade Organisation, held in Singapore during December 1996, brought into sharp relief the international tensions surrounding proposals for a social dimension to multilateral trade. The Singapore meeting finished in the same manner as it had started, predominantly divided and largely inconclusive on the issue of trade and labour standards. In a number of respects such an outcome came as no surprise. The debate over whether or not to attach a social clause to multilateral trade agreements draws on a long history of accusation and counter-accusation of labour exploitation and protectionist intentions, which has often resulted in little or no progress on the issue. This paper examines the arguments that have informed much of the contemporary debate with particular reference to a domi nant neo-liberalist orthodoxy and its implications for the regulation of labour stand ards. And in an attempt to broaden discussion, the paper also offers some thoughts on possible directions in which the debate could go by reference to regional trade blocs, the World Trade Organisation and the future of the International Labour Organisation.

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