Trade liberalization and cultural policy

This article examines the tension between global trade liberalization and the pursuit of cultural policies by national governments. It reviews the background to the discourse over trade and culture and a range of domestic cultural policy measures. Attention is also focused on the emergent issues governing the relationship between intellectual property, trade and culture, and recent disputes involving these at the WTO. The article then analyses the pervasiveness of globalization and its impact on the way in which cultural goods and services are traded and distributed, using the new media technologies, and its effects on cultural identity. The final section of the article discusses some prospects for the treatment of trade and culture exception to trade is rejected in favour of the application of specific rules governing trade and culture.