Author Description

Trade liberalisation and technological innovations have brought down many barriers that in the past obstructed the free cross-border circulation of cultural goods and services. In the opinion of many artists, cultural policy makers, executives of the cultural industry and other representatives of the cultural sector, national cultural identities and cultural diversity are threatened by economic globalization and in desperate need of protection and support. In response to calls for action, the governments of many countries have adopted measures in favour of domestic cultural goods and services. The question often arises whether these measures are consistent with obligations under international law, in particular the law of the WTO. Survey of the relevant WTO obligations and exceptions and to what extent the law of the WTO allows countries to take unilateral measures for the protection or promotion of their national culture.