Subsidy regulation and state transformation in North America, the GATT and the EU1997

Focusing on Canada and the United States, this study investigates the difficulty in reaching agreement about the appropriate role of government in the economy. The distinctive nature of US trade law is outlined, as are the historic policy differences which made a supranational arrangement in North America impossible. Recent developments at the multilateral level in the GATT and in the European Union highlight the variety of subsidy arrangements being agreed. Particular attention is paid to issues such as agriculture, aerospace, regional development and culture. The study concludes by suggesting that the difficult issue of accountability and control raised over subsidy regulation will become increasingly important to a wide range of trade negotiations.