ABSTRACT
The argument for including in General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) provisions for regional arrangements was the reality that such arrangements existed and would likely continue to be a part of international commercial arrangements. The downside of the matter was that allowance for regional arrangements would constitute an exception to the MFN obligation. The GATT requires that any group of countries deciding to enter into a regional arrangement must notify the GATT membership of that intent, providing the GATT membership with relevant information. Reviewing the European Community (EC) presented an enormous issue for the GATT. In contrast, the New York Times reported GATT's signing in a matter-of fact way, as commercial news: First, there is the Basic Geneva trade agreement, known as the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade. A large fraction of the regional arrangements that have been brought to GATT for review are associations or agreements between the EC and one or a group of developing countries.
