ABSTRACT
This chapter examines the experience of developing countries in international economic negotiations; in particular, the way they conduct their trade policy. It focuses on three aspects of their approach to economic diplomacy: first, the basic assumptions on which economic diplomacy in developing countries is based; second, the implications of these assumptions; and third, it suggests components for an enhanced economic diplomacy by developing countries. Marginalisation is the inevitable consequence of participating in negotiations in which the rules of the game are determined by the rich countries. The fear of marginalisation, particularly among African countries, is heightened by the perception that the world economy is dividing into regional trade blocs. The rules of engagement in international economic diplomacy are basically the same as those followed in other types of negotiations, with perhaps one major difference. International economic negotiations generally involve hundreds of people from hundreds of countries as in the World Trade Organization (WTO).
