Abstrakt
This article shows the very complex relationship between bilateralism, regionalism, and multilateralism in the global trade liberalization agenda. The United States, one of the biggest promoters of trade liberalization through multilateral negotiations, shifted its focus to bilateralism and regionalism in mid-80's.
This shift reflected changes in global economy, end of the US economic dominance, and stagnation of the multilateral negotiations. Major economic powers, including regional semi-powers, started to compete for trade preferences.
Today, global economy is filled with a dense network of regional and bilateral agreements, which offer signatories to proceed in trade liberalization beyond the WTO agenda. Although sub-Saharan Africa is the most marginalized region, it is also part of this network.
Trade relations between the US and Africa developed in last 15 years under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), unilateral trade preference regime allowing African states duty-free access to the US market. However, as the case study of East African Community member states reveals, the benefit is very limited and very likely will not lead to any substantial changes in trade patterns in Africa.