9 - International Trade of North African and Middle Eastern Countries and the NIEO

Abstract

This chapter presents the methods for overcoming obstacles, freeing, and maximizing the foreign trade of a major group of less developed countries (LDCs) in the world. Less developed countries have been adversely affected in the past by unfavorable trends in the terms of trade and by income instability because of dependency on income trends and potential markets in the developed countries. Only in periods of rapid growth in the developed countries have growth rates in the less developed countries been significantly upward. The chapter discusses trade problems—the difficulties of maintaining high levels of exports and adverse impacts of imports on internal activities. It discusses some of the policies that are allied to the goals of the New International Economic Order (NIEO) and the way in which these trade policies and institutions might be altered to achieve greater success for LDCs. The chapter also discusses trends in international trade and the dependency roles of the countries. It highlights the improved programs for action in the international trade area rather than specifying specific policies for individual countries.