South Perspectives - December 1998

OVERVIEW

A little more than three years ago the most comprehensive round of multilateral trade negotiations, launched in Punta del Este, Uruguay, in 1986, was concluded and a new organization, the WTO, came into being. The WTO has been entrusted with the implementation and enforcement of multilateral agreements negotiated during the Uruguay Round, covering wide-ranging aspects of the trade in goods and services, including the protection of intellectual property rights. These agreements entail an extensive programme of work with respect to implementation, reviews and further negotiations as mandated in the agreements. Moreover, provided there is a consensus among the WTO membership, new issues will be placed on the multilateral trade agenda. This is a formidable work programme requiring commitment of substantial human and material resources by all WTO members.

However, the experience of the past three years has demonstrated that the developing countries have not been able to participate in WTO matters in a way which effectively serves their interests, due to their lack of knowledge, resources and coordination. This has further tilted the balance of rights and obligations in the multilateral trading system as embodied in the WTO in favour of the developed countries. A major and sustained effort on the part of developing countries individually and as a group is therefore required to rectify the situation. The present document is an attempt to outline the challenges and broad directions that this involves.

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