TRADE AND LABOR STANDARDS

The purpose of our paper is to explore the different Views of the issu es of international labor standards and to explore the available optio ns for addressing these issues. We conclude that: (1) there is no conv incing case on theoretical or empirical grounds for incorporating labo r standards into the WTO and into U.S. trade agreements; (2) the sures t way to improve labor standards is for the United States and other in dustrialized countries to maintain open markets and to encourage the e conomic growth of their developing country trading partners; and (3) s teps should be taken to support the activities of the International La bour Organization (ILO) to provide inducements and technical assistanc e to help developing countries raise their labor standards.