Developing Countries
Trade Blocks
 |
Arranged trade agreements (trade blocks) can have a substantial impact on trade between both the engaging and non-engaging nations. In developing countries in particular, the blocks can largely influence economic progress; the products at this marketplace in Guatemala, for instance, could be distributed on a much wider level than they are currently given appropriate trade regulation. |
Nations form trade groups with others with whom they share common linkages. These include geographical areas, language and cultural heritage. Nations excluded from regional trade agreements are highly disadvantaged.
However such trade blocks create tension as members attempt to define their area. The membership of the European Union continues to grow and includes countries, which previously were considered to be members of the Middle East. The dominance of some nations within trade block can produce conflict, such as the current debate about the role of France and Germany within the EU.
The complex negotiations for trade agreements are generally fraught with political tensions. Governments seek bilateral or multi-lateral compromises, which improve their current trading position. These inevitably expose some sectors of their economy to future industrial change. Such changes have political consequences, as the current Bush (USA) and Howard (Australia) conservative administrations have encountered since the release of the February 2004, Trade Agreement. Although both parties claim success, both received complaints from the affected agricultural sectors
In any trade agreement the relative size and value of the potential markets will always be critical to the negotiations. Unless a small nation has a critical resource, such as oil reserves, they will have less to trade, and ultimately do so on the terms set by the larger dominant economies. Any downturn in the US will have a larger impact in its trading partners. Ultimately the world's largest economy, the US, has retained the most protectionist policies, despite the rhetoric proclaiming the advantages of free trade and the 'level playing field' ideal.
Trade agreements become increasingly complex because a successful agreement with one nation may have negative impacts on others who, in response, may penalise future agreements. Rounds of trade negotiations take place within a varying socio-political context. Trade deals must be acceptable to the each nation's voting majority, or that government faces loss of power. This limits what trading concessions will be considered at any given time.
The current trade blocks include
- Andean Community
- Asean, South East Asia
- Caricom, Caribbean Community Countries
- CIS, Commonwealth of Independent States
- ECOWAS, Economic Community of Western African States
- EFTA, European Free Trade Agreement
- EU, European Union
- Gulf Co-operation Council
- MERCESUR/Mercosul, Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay
- NAFTA, North American Free Trade Agreement
- Pacific Community, 27 nations
- SADC, South African Development Community
Globalisation and Infectious Diseases
Increased rates of travel and numbers of people travelling internationally have altered the pattern of spread of infectious diseases. Most diseases have an incubation period. These vary, but can range from a few hours up to several days or more. In the past when a traveller had contracted a disease, the symptoms would present during their journey, and this allowed them to be quarantined along with their exposed contacts. This has increased the rate of spread of new forms of virus and bacteria.
These conditions have evolved with contemporary antibiotics, and are not controlled by them. Many experts in microbiology expect a new era of infectious disease because these conditions have combine with decreased restrictions on food preparation and storage, animal feeding and slaughter, while westernised cultures exacerbate the spread of sexually transmitted diseases. Disease spread and control will be unequal, as some nations have little resources to buy the available treatments. This is apparent in the following HIV/AIDS 2002 statistics.
Regional HIV/AIDS statistics, 2002
| Region | Adults and children with HIV/AIDS | Adults and children newly infected with HIV | Adult Prevalence rate (%) | Main mode of transmission for adults with HIV/AIDS |
| Sub-Saharan Africa | 29.4 million | 3.5 million | 8.80% | Hetero |
| North Africa and Middle East | 550,000 | 83,000 | 0.30% | Hetero, IDU |
| South and South-East Asia | 6.0 million | 700,000 | 0.60% | Hetero, IDU |
| East Asia and Pacific | 1.2 million | 270,000 | 0.10% | IDU, Hetero, MSM |
| Latin America | 1.5 million | 150,000 | 0.60% | MSM, IDU, Hetero |
| Caribbean | 440,000 | 60,000 | 2.40% | Hetero, MSM |
| Eastern European and Central Asia | 1.2 million | 250,000 | 0.60% | IDU |
| Western Europe | 570,000 | 30,000 | 0.30% | MSM, IDU |
| North America | 980,000 | 45,000 | 0.60% | MSM, IDU, Hetero |
| Australia and New Zealand | 15,000 | 500 | 7% | MSM |
| Total | 42 million | 5 million | 1.2% | |
This table demonstrates the unequal spread of diseases with less developed infrastructure. These countries are more likely to have experienced internal wars or political disruptions, have fewer health workers and health expenditure. Those nations with lowest gross domestic products have the worst health outcomes, and highest rates of infectious disease spread.
Their populations are undergoing a rapid change as the mortality impact begins to decimate the effected sectors of their population. The mode of spread alters the impact of the disease, for instance in Australia only 7% of HIV patients are women while in Sub-Saharan Africa this climbs to 58%
HIV/Aids is only one of the new emerging disease threats, which are being transmitted around the globe, there are many others including SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome), and the expected 'Bird Flu'. It should be remembered that many old world infectious conditions are likely to re-emerge as threats because of evolved resistance, and improved methods of spreading. These include Bubonic Plague, which is maintained in populations of rodents throughout the world.
Diseases and pests of crops and livestock are also experiencing escalated transmission. This was prevented by quarantine restrictions previously, but under current WTO parameters it is viewed as a form of protectionism, and is being rigorously challenged.