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Arab countries are attempting to broaden their engagement in the multi lateral trading system in a manner that has many implications. Not only have some Arab countries either acceded or are in the pipeline of acced ing to the World Trade Organization (WTO), but their new commitments coincide with reorientations in their economic strategies. The purpose of this article is to examine the involvement in and implications of the multi lateral trading system on Arab countries. The proposition in this article is that the WTO is not a perfect institution. In WTO accession, politics matter more than commerce or trade. I argue that joining the WTO is a balancing act. As a result of economic liberalization, there would be losers in the industries of Arab countries. However, governments should compensate for any loss by ensuring better access to capital and estab lishing training programs to develop the skills of those dislocated. The …