International trade liberalization and sustainable development are stated as priority objectives in several international agreements. But are they compatible? The difficulties in concluding the World Trade Organization's development round raise the question of this organization's ability to serve the interests of sustainable development, as declared in its preamble. This debate is ongoing.

IDDRI approaches this subject through an intellectual and critical assessment of the issues raised by trade liberalization: the interests of lobbies, adjustment costs, externalities, sectoral specificities, and collective preferences. These issues fall within the framework of one or several scientific disciplines that should be encouraged to work together and to debate.

At present, little is known about the impact of trade liberalization on sustainable development. Are the existing assessment methods appropriate? Who are the winners and losers? What international priorities are acceptable for populations, whether in developed, emerging or developing countries?