Odds in GATT and WTO Negotiations Stacked Against Developing Countries

Abstract During the multilateral trade negotiations at the GATT/WTO, developing countries have confronted an array of challenges and have negotiated against odds. The relative lack of success of developing countries in GATT/WTO negotiations can be traced to the external environment characterized by asymmetry in political and economic power within which international trade negotiations are undertaken; as well as internal factors related to institutional and human resource deficiencies. This chapter discusses the following four themes: first, the constraints faced by developing countries in multilateral trade negotiations arising from external factors and internal deficiencies; second, strategic response of developing countries at the negotiating table; third, the response of developing countries after making vital concessions at the negotiating table; and fourth, a serious attempt at the institutional level aimed at analysing the weaknesses of India during the Uruguay Round of multilateral trade negotiations and suggesting corrective action.