This paper contains the first part of a study about the interaction between the policies for the Brazilian automotive sector in the second half of the nineties and the disputes in the WTO. Some considerations are initially made about protectionism in automotive sector in different countries before the WTO foundation, in despite of the GATT rules. It is then examined the features of some of the Uruguay Round agreements (TRIMs and SCM) that would affect the policy for the sector in Brazil. In the following, it is discussed the first problem in WTO caused by the government intention to limit importations through quotas. Finally, it is appointed the main aspects of the 1995 automotive regime that would cause new consultations in WTO during the next years.
Brazil and WTO; Brazilian automotive regime; WTO and industrial policy