The Genesis of the GATT [Paperback]

Examines the motivations and contributions of the two main framers of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT), and the smaller role of other countries.This book is part of a wider project that aims to propose a model GATT that makes good economic sense without undoing its current basic structure. The central question is, What does the historical record indicate about the aims and objectives of the framers of the GATT?This book is part of a wider project that aims to propose a model GATT that makes good economic sense without undoing its current basic structure. The central question is, What does the historical record indicate about the aims and objectives of the framers of the GATT?This book is part of a wider project that aims to propose a model GATT that makes good economic sense without undoing its current basic structure. It asks: What does the historical record indicate about the aims and objectives of the framers of the GATT? To what extent does the historical record provide support for one or more of the economic rationales for the GATT? The book supports that the two main framers of the GATT were the United Kingdom and the United States; developing countries influence was noticeable only after the mid-1950s. The framers understood the GATT as a pro-peace instrument; however, they were mindful of the costs of achieving such a far-reaching objective and were not willing to allocate them disproportionately. This may explain why their negotiations were based on reciprocal market access commitments so that the terms of trade were not unevenly distributed or affected through the GATT.1. The creation of the GATT; 2. The negotiation of the GATT; 3. The rationales for the GATT; Annex A. Documents relating to the negotiations; Annex B. Negotiating committees and subcommittees. ...Irwin (Darthmouth College, Free Trade Under Fire, CH, Mar'03, 40-4109), Mavroidis (Columbia Law School), and Sykes (Stanford Law School) provide an informative historical account olC)