De Facto Membership

De Facto Member of GATT and the GATT Policy Negotiations

In relation to the GATT Policy Negotiations, Christopher Mark (1993) provided the following explanation and/or definition of De Facto Member of GATT: A former dependency of a GATT member that since attaining independence has applied the GATT on a de facto basis, pending final determination of its commercial policy. Based on its previous association with the GATT as a colony or protectorate of another member, a de facto member may become a .full Contracting Party –without engaging in lengthy accession negotiations –simply by notifying the Director-General of its intention to accede. In September 1993, there were 20 de facto members of GATT.