The Burden of Sub-Saharan African Own Commitments in the Uruguay Round: Myth or Reality?

32 Pages Posted: 15 Feb 2006

See all articles by Piritta Sorsa

Piritta Sorsa

International Monetary Fund (IMF)

Date Written: May 1995

Abstract

The paper reviews Sub-Saharan Africa`s (SSA) (i) own market access commitments in the Uruguay Round, and (ii) the nature of the constraints on SSA policies set by the Uruguay Round. It concludes that SSA failed to use the Uruguay Round to lock domestic reforms to an international anchor. Apart from South Africa, most SSA countries made few substantial liberalization commitments on border protection. The new rules set few immediate constraints on SSA policies as developing countries benefit from long and extendable transition periods. The main impact of the new rules will be increased transparency of policies from increased notification requirements. Further trade liberalization will have to rely on unilateral initiatives.

JEL Classification: F13, F14

Suggested Citation

Sorsa, Piritta, The Burden of Sub-Saharan African Own Commitments in the Uruguay Round: Myth or Reality? (May 1995). IMF Working Paper No. 95/48, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=883196

Piritta Sorsa (Contact Author)

International Monetary Fund (IMF) ( email )

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