EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Achievements and impact assessment Multilateral economic diplomacy 1. South Africa has played an increasingly active, assertive and public role in the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and more specifically, the Doha Round of multilateral trade negotiations. In contrast to the previous Uruguay Round (1986-1994), in which South Africa accepted developed country commitments, the country is now negotiating as a developing country, reflective of its socioeconomic, growth and development challenges. 2. South Africa is strategically participating in two important developing country coalitions: the G20 demanding fairer global agricultural trade and the NAMA-11 1 which maintains developing countries ’ right to policy space for industrial development. South Africa is also a member of, and supports the Africa Group in the WTO. However, it should be recognised that the country’s more diversified economy and industrial structure implies that its interests may not always coincid