Newspaper comment following the events of September 11 2001 expressed somewhat similar views in regard to the immediate effects on the world economy, but came to very different conclusions to how the progress of globalisation would be impacted in the longer term. In his Financial Times article dated 1st November 2001 Baker claims that the major global economies have "shown an impressive commitment to maintain and deepen the open international system", citing the likelihood of success of the upcoming WTO talks in Doha. For his part Roach in his article on 28th September 2001 in the same publication, acknowledged that whilst the international will of the leading powers was pulling together in "extraordinary fashion" he stressed that these new alliances would "isolate the developing world", and worried that globalisation would be affected by these political influences.
             Certainly, there was concern about the image of the WTO at the time. In discussing the climate prior to the WTO Doha trade talks of late 2001, Meyer (2002) claimed that anti-globalisation movements had targeted the WTO as a major culprit for increasing poverty, and that its legitimacy as a tool leading to greater world welfare had been questioned by leading charities. However the talks were largely hailed as successful, and whilst the Doha declaration produced no new trade rules, a new process was put in motion, laying out the deadlines and milestones for moving world trade forward (Metzger 2002). Importantly, the restlessness of the developing world was acknowledged and addressed, with the declaration attempting to be inclusive, claiming "We seek to place [developing countries] needs and interests at the heart of the work programme". (WTO Ministerial Declaration 2001).
             Both Baker and Roach agree that the driver of the US economy up to September 11 had been the widening of international markets, as the benefits of reduced...