The Uruguay Round

The successful conclusion of the Uruguay Round in 1994 brought about the biggest reform of the world’s trading system since the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) was created at the end of the Second World War. The Round was launched in September 1986 in Punta del Este, Uruguay, bringing together 123 countries to extend the trading system into several new areas, including trade in services and intellectual property, and to reform trade in sensitive sectors, such as agriculture. The signing of the Final Act in Marrakesh, Morocco, in April 1994 led to the establishment of the World Trade Organization (WTO) on 1 January 1995. To mark the 40th anniversary of the launch of the Uruguay Round, this publication brings together contributions from some of the key players in the successful conclusion of the Uruguay Round. The contributors – from around the globe - share their personal recollections of the negotiations and reflect on the significance of the Round.