The special and differencial treatment for developing and least developed countries : a tool for trade adjustment and sustainable economic development, or a fools' paradise?

Abstract

“In one form or another, S&D has been a defining feature of the multilateral trading system for most of the post-war period. The battle to establish the principle that a set of uniform multilateral rights and obligations among a deeply diverse set of nations could not serve the best interests of all parties was won a long time ago.” (Keck and Low, 2004:3) The inaugural address focuses on the interplay between special and differential treatment (SDT) to developing and least developed countries (LDCs), and achievement of trade adjustment and sustainable economic development. The impact of SDT on developing countries and LDCs has been examined over years by scholars and has engendered divergent views and conclusions. Whereas the utility of SDT in the post-war multilateral trade environment may find a lot of support in respect to its positive contribution, albeit not always merited, its utility within the framework of the current trade dynamics is questionable. There is thus the need to re-think the continued use of SDT as a tool for trade adjustment and development. It is not, however, to be taken for granted that the special problems that led to the introduction of SDT provisions have disappeared.