ABSTRACT
Developing countries have played a prominent role in the evolution
of the trading system. Concerns regarding the appropriateness of
GATT disciplines and processes led to perceptions that they could
not compete for export markets on an equal basis with developed
countries. As noted previously, this led to a variety of provisions call-
ing for preferential access to major markets and less than full reci-
procity in negotiations. As noted in the panel report on EC – Tariff
Preferences:
During the Second Session of UNCTAD, on 26 March 1968, a
Resolution was adopted on ‘‘Expansion and Diversification of
Exports and Manufactures and Semi-manufactures of Developing
Countries’’ (Resolution 21 (II)). In this Resolution, UNCTAD
agreed to the ‘‘early establishment of a mutually acceptable system
of generalized, non-reciprocal and non-discriminatory preferences
which would be beneficial to the developing countries’’ and established a Special Committee on Preferences as a subsidiary
organ of the Trade and Development Board, with a mandate to
settle the details of the GSP arrangements. In 1970, UNCTAD’s
Special Committee on Preferences adopted Agreed Conclusions
which set up the agreed details of the GSP arrangement.
