Coalitions in the Uruguay Round: The Extent, Pros and Cons of Developing Country Participation 1,2

Abstract

This paper both documents the involvement of developing countries in coalitional activity in the current GATT Uruguay round thus far, and provides a rudimenting evaluation of the pros and cons of the different options for them as far as coalitional strategies are concerned. The main conclusions are that much of the coalitional activity involving developing countries thus far in the round has been agenda-moving and joint proposal-making, rather than negotiating involving exchanges of concession. At the same time, however, coalitional activity by a larger group of mid-sized developed and smaller developing countries who see a major interest in preserving the multilateral system has been central to the process.