Elliott position (say “WTO liberal”?) doesn’t really seem that different from the old, “WTO conservative” position. The conservative discounts the opinions of the people in the developing world, the liberal discounts the opinions of the taxpayers in the rich world.

“History suggests that trade can be an effective mechanism for increasing economic growth in poor countries, but that requires rich countries to face down their protectionist lobbies and take decisions that might cause short-term pain to their electorates to secure long-term gains.”

Basically he wants our politicians to do things that will get them dis-elected. That’s not really that different from what the IMF wants from de la Rua in Argentina.