Trade And Development In The GATT And WTO: The Role Of Special And Differential Treatment For Developing Countries
- Topics:
- GATT
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Overview: The paper analyses how the evolution of thinking regarding the role trade plays in economic development has been reflected in provisions affecting developing countries in the GATT and the WTO. The focus is on the provisions calling for special and differential treatment (SDT) of developing countries. The paper identifies a major shift in priorities of SDT within the context of the WTO, which emphasizes measures of technical assistance and extended transition periods to enable countries to meet their commitments in the new areas agreed in the Uruguay Round of Negotiations. At the same time the WTO contains many provisions encouraging developed countries to provide preferential treatment to developing countries through a variety of measures, none of which are legally enforceable. The paper concludes, that weaknesses in the institutional capacity of many developing countries provide a conceptual basis for continuing SDT in the WTO. However, the benefits should be targeted only to low income and the least developed countries which need assistance in integrating in the international trading system and that a system of graduation should be put in place for higher income developing countries.
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Format: HTML | Date: Apr 2000 | Pages: 1
