us to realize anywhere near our full potential. Trade, in its widest sense, will be expected to playa central role during the Fourth Development Decade to overcome the intractable social and economic ineguities that stubbornly continue to plague the developing countries. Freer international trade has the potential to revolutionize living standards everywhere. But over past decades the imbalance between developed and developing countries has worsened rather than improved. UNCTAD VII will fall far short of its aims unless the Uruguay Round is able genuinely to involve developing countries and incorprate measures »*iich will result in tangible improvements in their living standards. It is not enough to achieve a meeting of the minds on reversing protectionist trends, as often happens in international and other meetings. This must also be put into practice. A number of recent, as well as potential, developments suggest that multilateralism in international economic relations may become more difficult to achieve. The argument goes that the decade of the 1990s will see a fully integrated European Community, possibly of more members than the present 12, North America increasingly operating as one economic entity, and the consequences of the changes taking place in Eastern Europe will become felt. The past record suggests that these developments will work to the disadvantage of developing countries RH/6 A/S-18/PV. 9 17 (Mr. Thompson, Fiji ) unless those blocs enhance rather than restrict the access of developing countries to their markets. Many developing countries continue to meet great difficulty and in some cases find it impossible to gain markets in the industrialized economies for many of their products. Although some progress has been made under the generalized system of preferences, three quarters of dutiable exports of developing countries do not enjoy preferential treatment. Non-tariff barriers remain a major impediment to 
**Analysis**
The text discusses the role of international trade in overcoming social and economic inequalities in developing countries, highlighting the need for fairer access to markets and the potential consequences of regional trade blocs on developing countries. The text also touches on the importance of tangible improvements in living standards for developing countries. These themes suggest that the text is primarily focused on economic development and international trade.

**Category**
International trade, Economic development