STRUGGLE OF THE DEVELOPING COUNTRIES FOR NORMALIZATION OF TRADE

This analytical study examines the ongoing struggle of developing countries to achieve normalization of international trade relations during the mid-1980s, a period characterized by increasing protectionism in developed markets and mounting debt crises in the global South. The article explores the conceptual framework of trade normalization from a developing country perspective, analyzing what constitutes fair and equitable trade relations in an asymmetric global economy. The research investigates the historical context of developing country trade advocacy, tracing the evolution from calls for a New International Economic Order to contemporary negotiations in GATT and UNCTAD. The study assesses specific trade normalization initiatives, including efforts to secure preferential market access, stabilize commodity prices, and reduce non-tariff barriers. The article also examines the impact of changing global economic conditions, including recession in developed economies and structural adjustment pressures in developing countries, on trade normalization prospects. Furthermore, the analysis identifies strategic priorities for advancing developing country trade interests in the evolving international trading system.

The struggle for trade normalization represented a central dimension of North-South economic relations during the 1980s, with this article providing a comprehensive examination of developing country efforts to achieve fairer international trade arrangements. The research begins by conceptualizing trade normalization from a developing country perspective, analyzing how asymmetric power relations, historical dependencies, and structural disadvantages shape international trade outcomes. The analysis explores the historical evolution of developing country trade advocacy, tracing the journey from early post-independence protectionism through calls for a New International Economic Order to more pragmatic engagement with the global trading system. The article investigates specific trade normalization initiatives, including the Generalized System of Preferences, commodity price stabilization schemes, and efforts to secure special and differential treatment in international trade agreements. The study examines the impact of the global economic environment of the mid-1980s, including rising protectionism in developed countries, the debt crisis in developing regions, and structural adjustment programs mandated by international financial institutions. The research assesses the institutional framework for trade negotiations, analyzing how developing countries organized themselves in forums like UNCTAD, GATT, and various commodity organizations to advance their trade interests. Based on the comprehensive assessment, the article identifies both achievements and persistent challenges in the struggle for trade normalization and analyzes the factors that will determine future progress. The findings provide valuable insights into the dynamics of international trade relations between developed and developing countries and contribute to understanding how structural inequalities in the global economy can be addressed through trade policy reform.