Conclusion

Abstract

In the years following World War II a large number of countries which had an interest in international trade being as free as possible proved to be ready to accept certain restrictions on their sovereign freedom of action. International trade became the “secteur privilégié” (J.P. Haesaert) as regards the international codification of rules and regulations, though the nations’ willingness to band together was not wholly confined to trade in the strict sense but extended to the entire field of economic matters. This is presumably attributable to the fact that “a development in power is more easily brought about in organizations concerned with functional and economic activities than in those that are concerned over the ultimate questions of peace and war” (E. Luard).