Trade Policy Development and Negotiations in the Doha Round: Documentation of Major Issues and Proposals on Africa's Position

Time it was when Africa, just emerging from colonial rule, was able to afford being a free rider under the old GATT arrangements. The participation of developing countries in the Tokyo Round of multilateral trade negotiations, which involved mostly developed countries, was minimal, (Schott, 2004). The majorities of countries in the developing world, including Africa, were not involved and were not bound by the new GATT obligations. They were granted concessions under the GATT’s most-favoured nation (MFN) principle, without having to adhere to the principle of reciprocity of opening up their own markets to foreign competition.