Impact of the Uruguay round agreements on trade in food products

Abstract

International trade in food products represents an important part of total trade. In 1992, exports of food products represented 9.6 percent of total world exports whereas imports accounted for 10.2 percent of total world imports. For Africa, this proportion is even more important. For the same year, Africa's imports of food products amounted to 20.5 percent of the continent's total imports. On the export side, this proportion was 13 percent. It is within this perspective that this study is carried out. Chapter II will review the trend in Africa's trade in food products. Chapter III will analyze the current trade regimes as well as the different provisions of the Uruguay Round that will affect international trade in food products. In chapter IV, attempt is made to assess the likely impact of these provisions on Africa's trade in food products. In light of the developments in chapter IV, chapter V will draw conclusions and make policy recommendations with the aim of enabling African countries derive maximum advantage from the implementation of the provisions of the Uruguay Round agreements relating to trade in food products.