Introduction

Developing countries have been a part of the global trade policy development process since the inception of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) – Brazil and India were two of the 23 GATT founding members – although they have not played a significant role in establishing international trade policy. The United States and Europe have always played an important role in determining international trade policy although during the latter GATT years it was the Quad (Canada, the European Union, Japan and the United States) that established the treaties that were eventually signed by all GATT members. For example, GATT Director-General Peter Sutherland succeeded in bringing the Uruguay round to an end in 1993 by forcing the EU and US to reach an agreement that was basically presented to other GATT member nations for adoption.