Issues and Developments in international Trade Policy

Issues and Developments in international Trade Policy Synopsis

This paper analyzes issues and developments in international trade policy. Protectionist pressures remain high in industrial countries and in some cases have resulted in an increase in trade-restricting measures. Nonfuel imports of industrial countries subject to nontariff measures rose from about 19 percent of their total nonfuel imports in 1981 to about 23 percent in 1987. Since then, there has been a sharp increase in export restraint arrangements reported by the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade. Developments in agricultural trade policies give great cause for concern, particularly as they affect an already highly protected sector.