The Asia-Pacific developing countries and the new world trading system: a historical overview of emerging policy issues

Abstract The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) recently organised a Workshop in the Philippines, of trade and industry officials from Asia and Pacific countries. The Workshop had a timely purpose: to identify trading opportunities and adjustment strategies to benefit from the liberalisation of world trade as well as to cope with the difficulties which developing countries will face in the Post-Uruguay Round World Trading System. National papers on the subject were presented by officials from the following countries: Brunei, Bangladesh, China, Fiji, HongKong, India, Indonesia, Republic of Korea, Malaysia, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Samoa, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Taiwan Province of China, Thailand and Vietnam. The object of the present paper is to put these national papers as well as the new world trading system in their context by providing an historical and analytical overview of the main developments in the world economy in the Post-World War II period.