International agricultural trade negotiations under GATT/WTO: experiences and future challenges

This document explains that experiences during the several GATT Rounds after the Second World War, and in particular during the Uruguay Round, are important for discussion on the future challenges and the possible outcomes of the negotiations, which will start around 2000. Looking back at the history of the GATT, we must realize that because of the unfortunate results of protectionist policies before World War II, countries heavily involved in world trade, signed and agreement in 1948, known as the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT), under which in principle, trade in goods between signatory countries should be free. Where such an agreement is not possible and countries need to protect their frontiers, only fixed tariffs may be imposed, and must be gradually dismanted and which may not discriminate between countries. (MV)