UPSC Prelims 2000 · General Studies
Question 39: Economy and Social Development
Consider the following statements: The Ministerial Meeting of the WTO held in December 1999 was unsuccessful because it attempted to link trade with
- 1.Labour related issues.
- 2.Environment related issues.
- 3.Terrorism related issues.
- 4.Debt related issues.
Which of these statements are correct?
AnswerThe answer is (b).
The WTO's Seattle Ministerial Conference (30 November to 3 December 1999) broke down in part because the United States and some other developed countries pushed for linking trade with labour standards and environmental issues. Developing countries, including India, opposed this as disguised protectionism. Terrorism and debt were not the linkages that broke the talks. Remember Seattle with labour and environment.
- 1. Labour standards were the linkage pushed by developed countries.
- 2. Environmental issues were also pushed as linked to trade.
- 3. Terrorism was not a trade linkage at the meeting.
- 4. Debt was not the linkage that broke the talks.
How you could have got this
- If you were sure statement 1 is correct, (c) and (d) go: each of them leaves 1 out.
What you needed to know: Labour standards were the linkage pushed by developed countries.
- Then, if you were sure statement 2 is correct, (a) goes: it leaves 2 out.
What you needed to know: Environmental issues were also pushed as linked to trade.
Only (b) is left. You didn’t need statements 3 or 4.
This follows an unofficial answer: UPSC has not published its key for this year, and if that answer is wrong, so is this path.
Which options go is worked out from UPSC’s key and the options, not by a model.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Terrorism and debt were not the links being pressed at Seattle.
- (b) Right: labour and environment linkages made the meeting fail.
- (c) Terrorism was not a trade linkage at Seattle.
- (d) Debt was not the linkage pressed at Seattle.
Explanation: written by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.
Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2000, General Studies. UPSC's own paper isn't online; the words are from a published compilation. The paper on upsc.gov.in.