the amount of debt servicing is to be defined as a consequence of the level of economic growth to be sought in accordance with the needs and aspirations of the country. Developing countries like my own, which want to modernize and oPen their economies, must of course not only be able to invest more but also to imJ>Ort more. They find themselves, however, in the peculiar situation of facing external impediments to the achievement of that goal. Increasinq impOrts will result -all other things remaininq constant -in an inevitable reduction in the transfer of funds to creditors, a proposition that is strongly resisted in creditor nations, those very countries whose exparters call for improved OPPOrtunities in our markets. Furthermore, in strict commercial terms the cards at the current Uruguay Round of the General Aqreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) negotiations seem once aqain to be stacked against the interests of the developinq countries. In services an outright liberalization is Propased, which would be tantamount to the cornerinq by developed countries of the services market of the less developed ones. In the field of industrial property rights, the existing requirements under international law to work the patent are being replaced by demands to turn the patent holder's rights into a virtual monopoly, including importation, thus creatinq additional obstacles to technology transfer. As regards direct investments, the host countries are beinq asked to refrain from exercising their right to leqislate on l:he treatment of foreign capital. At the same time, legitimate and lonq-standinq IM/19 A/S-18/PV. 7 88 (Mr. Noqueira-Batista; Brazill requests of the developinq countries are not beinq qiven adequate consideration: in the area of safequards, that dark t.nderworld of international trade law the preferred abode of protectionism, scant are the prosPects of shadows beinq dissipated; in the field of farm policy, whose restrictions and subsidies 
**Analysis**
The text discusses the challenges faced by developing countries in modernizing their economies and achieving economic growth, citing specific issues with international trade agreements and the Uruguay Round of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) negotiations. The text highlights the concerns of developing countries in areas such as patent rights, direct investments, and safeguards, and argues that their requests are not being given adequate consideration. The text does not explicitly mention natural resources, environment, health, education, employment, humanitarian aid, culture, or science and technology, which suggests that these categories are not directly relevant.

**Category**
International trade, Economic development