The tremendous importance of small and medium-sized enterprises within the German economy is repeatedly stressed in policy discussions. That makes the disproportionately low level of involvement by SMEs in the Asian growth region stand out all the more prominently. What are the factors...

Since 1970 the world economy has gone through a series of grave crises which have stimulated an intensive discussion about the economic and political relations between industrialized and developing countries. As seen from the Federal Republic of Germany, the witnessed events have not only an...

The Third UN Conference on the Law of the Sea meets in New York from August 21 to September 15, 1978, for the second half of its Seventh Session. At its earlier meetings the Conference had not succeeded in mapping out a new international maritime law. The present article analyses the state of...

As one of the biggest trade partners of the developing countries the Federal Republic of Germany is of necessity one of the states to which these countries will address their trade-political demands at UNCTAD V. An analysis shows however that, as the classic competences for trade policy...

Although the EC’s Generalized System of Preferences has been in force since July 1, 1971, vagueness still prevails with regard to the question to what extent the system has contributed to the lowering of tariff barriers and of what service it has thus been as a tool for the promotion of...

In 1986 the EEC’s Generalized System of Preferences will be entering its 15th year. In line with the Community’s decision for the granting of generalized tariff preferences for the period 1981–90 the time has come for an interim appraisal of the scheme with the aim of evaluating...

The Asian Pacific countries do not only show unparalled growth dynamics, they are also in the process of growing ever closer together. There is already talk of the creation of a new economic bloc. The following article analyses private direct investment in the Asian Pacific area, an element in...

The growing importance of regional integration, particularly in the Triad of Western Europe, North America and the Asia-Pacific region, is not always regarded as positive, but is also criticized because of the dangers involved for free world trade. What effects on world trade are to be expected?...