ABSTRACT
Ever since the colonial period, developing countries have been exchanging primary export products for manufactured imports from the more developed parts of the world. In many of the colonies, this trade pattern was established by the mother country’s demand for agricultural and mining products which were not available at home. But contrary to other colonies, where trade ties with the mother country remained after independence (Frey 1984:2-3), Latin American independence from Spain meant that exports could be directed to other more profitable markets.
