Does international trade help developing countries?: IELTS Writing Task 2 sample answer

Over the past forty years, trade between nations has expanded dramatically, and large corporations now manufacture and sell products all over the world. Opinions differ on who gains most from this process. In my opinion, globalisation has brought real benefits to developing countries, although these benefits are often shared unfairly.

Those who believe that poorer nations have benefited point to the millions of jobs created by foreign investment. Bangladesh is a clear example: its garment industry, which produces clothing for international brands, employs around four million people, most of them women, and accounts for the great majority of the country's exports. Similar stories can be told about electronics manufacturing in Vietnam and call centres in the Philippines. Income from these industries has helped to reduce poverty and to pay for roads, schools and hospitals.

On the other hand, critics argue that most of the wealth flows back to rich countries. Multinational companies usually keep the design, branding and marketing of their products at home, where the highest profits are made, while factory workers in developing countries earn low wages. Weak regulation in some places has also allowed exploitation and dangerous working conditions, as the Rana Plaza collapse near Dhaka in 2013 tragically demonstrated. In addition, local businesses may struggle to compete with powerful foreign firms.

Weighing these arguments, I believe that international trade has been a positive force overall, because isolation from global markets has rarely helped any country to grow. However, the gains will only be fair if governments enforce safety standards and minimum wages, and if developing nations invest in education so that their economies can move into higher-value industries.

In conclusion, while wealthy nations and corporations undoubtedly take a large share of the profits from globalisation, developing countries have also gained jobs, income and investment. The challenge now is to make sure that these benefits reach ordinary workers.