The Multilateral Trading System, Economic Development, and Poverty Alleviation in Africa

Abstract

ABSTRACT The focus of this paper is on the multilateral trade system as embodied in the World Trade Organization (wto) and its impact on African economic development and poverty alleviation. It discusses how the multilateral trading system—particularly the rules and agreements in areas such as tariff barriers, access to Western markets, and intellectual property rights—has affected the efforts of African countries to chalk up economic development and address the high poverty levels on the continent. The paper argues that while African economies have not remained stagnant since becoming part of the multilateral trading system, the economic growth rates have been rather low, thereby bringing little benefits to African countries. This stems not only from the inadequate access that most African countries have to Western markets, but more importantly from the lack of personnel to negotiate at multilateral trade sessions, the perennial problem of limited experts, and mono-crop agricultural exports, which have characterized the economies of much of Africa. Hence, until there are changes in the multilateral trade system, improvements made in areas of personnel training and human capacity buildings, and efforts made to diversify their exports, it is unlikely the peripheral status of the African countries in the global economy will change.