Journal of World Trade Studies

Oceanian Sovereignty in Blue Economy: Ending Unfair Dependency Constraining Small Island Developing States

Farrel Rakha Aryasatya — 2025-06-26

The implementation of the blue economy in Small Island Developing States (SIDS) can provide a promising economic opportunity to further utilize the riches of marine resources sustainably. Unfortunately, due to the internalized cultural hegemony supporting the economical North-SIDS relations, SIDS still rely upon the investment of the Global North to provide resources to implement this concept. In Neo-Gramscian theory, the Global North is forming a ‘historical bloc’ that uses their resources to maintain an upper hand in their relationship with SIDS. The concept of ‘Oceanian Sovereignty’ in the blue economy acts as a ‘counter-hegemony’ for these countries to unify support for their sovereignty and rights over their own development course through South-South Cooperation. This paper analyzes cases of North-South power imbalance. Using the Neo-Gramscian Theory, this paper uses qualitative methods in analysing the ‘Oceanian Sovereignty’ concept as a gradual effort to counter the Global North domination in the blue economy and look into challenges of the South-South Cooperation to manifest a just transition. This paper finds that under the current state of South-South Cooperation, it is challenging to contest Global North's domination that persists through neoliberal co-optation and economic pressure without sufficient strive for international solidarity and collaboration.

Negotiating the TRIPS Waiver Proposal: India’s Strategy in the WTO to Tackle COVID-19 Pandemic

Ari Camila Puspa Devi — 2025-06-26

This research examines India's negotiation strategy on the proposal to waive the TRIPS Agreement (TRIPS waiver) at the WTO to deal with COVID-19. India, along with South Africa, submitted the TRIPS waiver proposal in response to the disparity of available medicines between developing and developed countries during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. India has played an important role in proposing TRIPS waiver in 2020. India’s historical legacy to the birth of TRIPS flexibility during the Uruguay Round 1989 and the Doha Declaration on TRIPS and Public Health during the Doha Round 2001, making it interesting to observe the dynamics of negotiation and strategies used to include the TRIPS waiver in the Ministerial Conference 12. This research demonstrates that India has failed to use mixed-distributive strategy during the negotiation and then it shifts to apply integrative strategy due to the Quadrilateral type of negotiation, tight deadline affected by negotiation deadlock, and pressure of green room negotiation during the TRIPS waiver negotiation. The research utilizes the concepts of distributive and integrative strategy, as well as the dual concern model, to identify India's strategy and elaborate transformation. This research aims to contribute to the discussion of how developing countries like India navigate multilateral trade negotiation in WTO amidst contested interest between the Global North and South and elaborating strategy used during the process of negotiation.

Blue Economy and Local Wisdom: Synergy of Pecalang Segara in the Indonesia Sustainable Oceans Program (ISOP) Implementation

Ni Nyoman Clara Listya Dewi — 2025-07-24

This study aims to discuss Indonesia’s role in optimizing the implementation of the blue economy through (Indonesia Sustainable Oceans Program) ISOP by focusing on synergy based on local wisdom. A literature review is accomplished to gather evidence of the genuine efforts that Indonesia has made through ISOP and the immediate involvement of Pecalang in conserving Bali’s Ocean. The blue economy concept provides an opportunity to increase public understanding of the importance of keeping the sea sustainable. On the other hand, the government is expected to provide support through implementing policies for optimal management of the sea and surrounding resources. This role is essential because Indonesia is an archipelagic country that fully utilizes the sea as its primary resource. According to Ministry of Environment and Forestry of Indonesia, at least 14 million tons of plastic still end up in the Indonesian ocean every year, thus it needs a different approach to tackle this issue. A local wisdom-based approach can be a more effective and progressive conservation measure. The author uses a case study on Pecalang Segara as a local protective agent for Bali’s marine conservation. Through a qualitative study with descriptive analysis, the authors conclude that the immediate involvement of Pecalang Segara as a local community in implementing ISOP can encourage the formation of a more effective guidance scheme in implementing sustainability from the blue economy concept.

The Impact of UPOV 1991 on Plant Variety Protection and Agricultural Innovation: Comparing Case Studies of Singapore and Japan

Andi Faradilla Ayu Lestari — 2025-08-06

This article aims to analyze the comparative implementation of UPOV 1991 as a form of international compliance and its impact in Singapore and Japan. The findings of this research reveal that Singapore ratified UPOV 1991 in 2004 and implemented it in the Plant Varieties Protection Act 2004. Meanwhile, Japan ratified UPOV 1991 in 1998 and implemented it in the amendments to the Plant Variety Protection and Seed Act 1978. It provides a 25-year protection guarantee for plant breeders, and the adoption of UPOV 1991 also has various other impacts on Singapore and Japan. Singapore has made notable strides in the agricultural innovation sector and is more actively involved in international cooperation addressing developing effective plant variety protection systems. As for Japan, a more efficient framework for the use of IPR, which increases the competitiveness of domestic agriculture, has been established, and innovation in plant variety testing technology continues to experience advancements that bring numerous benefits to local farmers.

Effectiveness of Government Intervention in Regulating Tax and Incentives Towards Indonesia’s Blue Economy Sustainability

Nur Rachma Fitriani — 2025-08-06

Indonesia is now focusing on developing more inclusive and sustainable economic growth in the maritime sector. The potential of Indonesia’s marine resources has become the focus of transformation in terms of implementing the blue economy framework. The tourism and maritime sectors are among the largest contributors to the Indonesian economy. However, the analysis and application of the blue economy to the socio-economy of coastal communities have still not received much attention. Previous research on this topic is still limited, particularly regarding the impact of related policies and regulations. Therefore, this paper aims to evaluate the effectiveness of government intervention in imposed tax and incentive provisions as leading factors for implementing a sustainable blue economy. This paper also aims to analyze further the potential and challenges in developing Indonesia’s marine economy. This paper will use the methodology of secondary data analysis and case studies with the approach of public economics. The findings of this paper are recommendations for policy reform to support the blue economy transition in Indonesia, such as mobilizing incentives, developing better resource management systems, and strengthening institutional capacity.