Capacity Building for WTO Participation: African Perspectives

The World Trade Organisation (WTO) has emerged as a key organ of governance and management of the globalising world economy. Its establishment as a forum for continuous negotiations on a range of trade and trade-related issues is creating new challenges for African countries. An essential requirement of participation in the trade regime under the WTO is more rapid investment and overall economic growth by securing better market access for products. For African countries, this can be possible only if they can participate more effectively in the design and enforcement of trade rules as well as strengthening the institutional mechanism that shapes the trade regime on appropriate terms. This article explores the question of why African countries’ participation in the WTO has been marginal and suggests recommendations to improve the situation.