There is a big difference between multilateral negotiations of universal rules and the effective imposition of rules – and even concessions – in a negotiation between the EU or the US and a smaller trade partner. While large developing countries – such as Brazil, Russia, India, and China – can avoid such impositions from developed economies, most others cannot.
但如果不能处于WTO的有效监监管之下的话，这类协议将引发极大的危险。首先，那些实力更强的国家往往会在这类协议中占据上风。一方面是基于国际规则的多边谈判，另一方面则是欧盟或者美国将自己的规则——甚至特权——强加在一个小型贸易伙伴身上，两者的利弊截然不同的。当那些大型发展中国家——比如巴西、俄罗斯，印度和中国——得以避免这类不平等协议之时，其他小国只能自认倒霉。