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international

framework of the WTO. Trade was supposed to relevant to the macro economic development
bring peaceful and stable relations among States. of countries. In this regard, there is space for
The reality is that in the interest of power, the improvement on the continent. The environment
main economies have deserted the multilateral for entrepreneurs is still challenging as in many
arena of the WTO. Thus, leaving the South in a African countries the local business environment
sort of limbo. Trade instruments, such as tariffs faces constraints, namely due to heavy legislative
have become rather a political punitive tool to processes, difficult access to small credits,
destabilize international relations. While, the particularly for small businesses mostly managed
regional blocs have preferred to sustain short- by women, logistics constraints, such as regular
term interests rather than long term global electricity cuts, lack of easy access to water, and
economic growth and peace. Africa pays a difficult roads conditions that impede long term
price as its regional blocs embedded in its sub- planning and business development. Changing
regional organisations are not strong enough to the WTO decision-making implies that the
face the challenges of global trade. In this regard, single undertaking does not match anymore
the reform of the WTO decision-making process the interests of its Member States. The decision-
will have to avoid the creation of a two-speed making of the WTO negotiations is to match the
Organisation. Indeed, he risk is that accelerating emerging world’s needs. The single undertaking
some decisions might leave the weaker actors has been a means to rebalance issues that affect
behind. The General Council will have to pay both development strategies and interests of
attention to keep the balance between the most industrialised countries. Indeed, the rebalancing
powerful trade actors and the weaker trade of trade rules has been on the agenda since
actors. It will not be easy but it will be the only many years, and the decision-making has been
way to guarantee long term stability of world indeed at the core of the debate. The WTO arena
trade. remains the only arena where a global trade
dialogue, although imperfect, shall take place
The third reason is related to trade policies to rebalance the world trade-related topics. Any
on the continent: In spite of its great potential, other solution will result in destabilization of the
trade policy in Africa do not seem to match world peace.
- or be up to the competitiveness of the needs
of the world economy. This is strictly related
to the first reason, namely a split of the world
economy and a global weakening of the idea
of solidarity in international relations. A more
strategic approach to trade policies and trade
instruments is therefore needed. There is still
a challenge to be faced that it is related to the
acceptance of competitiveness as a trade tool
rather than aid and solidarity in trade policy.
The rationale of trade is that enterprises must
know the foreign markets, and have a strategy
while being sustained by the governments as it
concerns the promotion of economic sectors

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