THE URUGUAY ROUND: IN WHOSE INTERESTS?

In: Review of African political economy, Band 66, Heft 22, S. 564-568

Abstract

THIS ARTICLE REVIEWS THE IMPLICATIONS OF THE NEW WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION (WTO) WHICH REPLACES GATT (GENERAL AGREEMENT ON TARIFFS AND TRADE), FOR AFRICA'S PLACE IN INTERNATIONAL TRADE. IN PARTICULAR, IT IS SUGGESTED THAT THE WTO, AND THE NEW DISPUTES PROCEDURE, ARE UNLIKELY TO IMPROVE AFRICA'S RELATIVE POSITION IN THE WORLD CAPITALIST SYSTEM AND MAY, IN SOME IMPORTANT RESPECTS, EVEN UNDERMINE IT. THE ARTICLE ALSO CLAIMS THAT THOUGH THE WTO WAS INTENDED TO REMOVE THE BIAS IN FAVOR OF POWERFUL COUNTRIES, THE REALITY IS QUITE DIFFERENT. AN EXAMINATION OF THE WTO AGREEMENT REVEALS THAT LITTLE OF SUBSTANTIVE NATURE HAS CHANGED. AND CHANGE WILL ALSO NOT COME EASILY OR INEXPENSIVELY. SUBSTANTIAL RESOURCES WILL BE NEEDED TO ENSURE THAT DEVELOPING COUNTRIES ARE NOT OUT-MANOUVERED BY THE DOMINANT MEMBER COUNTRIES. RESOURCES WILL ALSO BE NEEDED TO ENSURE THAT ALL DEVELOPING COUNTRIES WILL HAVE A REPRESENTATIVE PRESENT AT ALL WTO MEETINGS.