Co-operation Among State-Trading Organizations of Developing Countries

Abstract

In the literature on economic integration, and also in general international trade theory, the subject of state trading has been treated as an aberration from the rules of the game, rather than one of its integral parts. This orientation is particularly misplaced in dealing with economic integration among developing countries, in which state trading usually plays an important — and often a dominant — role in the country’s overall international trade.³

Although the author of this article is a staff member of the UNCTAD secretariat, this article was written in his personal capacity and the views expressed therein should not be construed as representing those of the institu?tion to which he is affiliated.

In the preparation of this article the author has drawn heavily on the following regional studies undertaken on behalf of UNCTAD by consultants who gathered information on the spot in thirty-one developing countries. J. B. Esteves and F. Sanchez, Co-operation between State trading organizations in Latin America (TD/B/C.7/16); B. R. Bhandari, Co-operation among State Trading Organizations in Asian Developing Countries (TD/B/C.7/17); S. B. Rutega, Co-operation among State-trading organizations in developing countries in English-speaking Africa (TD/B/C.7/18/Add. 1); I. Sy Co-operation among State-trading Organizations in French-speaking Africa South of the Sahara (TD/B/C.7/18/Add. 2); M. K. Anous, Co-operation among State trading organizations of Arab countries (TD/B/C.7/37). All are documents of the UNCTAD Secretariat (Geneva, 1979).