Nontariff measures and developing countries: has the Uruguay Round leveled the playing field?

The effects of the Uruguay Round of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) on the protectionist policies of Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) countries were evaluated. OECD countries have imposed both tariff and nontariff barriers on exports of developing countries. These trade barriers have had a negative effect on the economic growth of developing countries. It was argued that the Uruguay Round will greatly reduce the use of non-tariff trade measures among the participating countries of the GATT.