Abstract
This LL.M. thesis examines the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) and the impact of its Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) on developing countries, tracing the evolution of such preferential treatment from the addition of Part IV in 1964 through the conclusion of the Uruguay Round in December 1993. The work analyzes the role that institutions such as the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), the North-South dialogue, and the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), played in persuading GATT to accept the GSP. It evaluates the impact and effectiveness of various rounds of GATT negotiations and their resulting agreements, including the Kennedy Round, the Tokyo Round, and the Urugay Round. The work explores the treatment of areas critical to developing countries, including the Multifibre Agreement phase-out, agricultural subsidies, antidumping regimes, TRIPS, and the liberalization of services and investment. The thesis incorporates Professor Robert Hudec's influential critique that the GATT's special and differential treatment system was "seriously flawed and probably cause more harm than good." It concludes by assessing future prospects for developing countries, including threats from U.S. unilateral action under Section 301, the rise of regional trade blocs, and attacks from the environmental community.
Repository Citation
Ahmed, Arifuddin, "GATT and the Developing Countries Problems and Prospects After Uruguay" (1994). LLM Theses and Essays. 347.
https://digitalcommons.law.uga.edu/stu_llm/347