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Abstract
Within the debate about developing countries export competitiveness the increasing
importance of food safety and quality standards especially in OECD countries appeals to be one of
the major sources of concern. The paper analyses the trade performance of 73 developing countries
within the context of stricter SPS measures. The analysis concentrates on the meat and fruit /
vegetable sectors as especially high value product sectors are determined by standards. The periods
under consideration are 1993- 1995, as a period before the implementation of the SPS Agreement
and 2002- 2004, as a period after the implementation. A cluster analysis groups the countries
according to the variables "ratio" and "difference" of the export value to OECD countries including
the possibility to explore trade performance regarding to the absolute level of change and relative
dynamics. Subsequently, interconnections with EU and US border rejections as well as with STDF
(Standards and Trade Development Facility) investment are explored. For the results three major
findings should be underlined: e) The group of developing countries shows as well in total as in
relative terms a very heterogeneous picture of their export development and there is no linear
relation between total export value and direction of development. ee) Ten groups were identified in
the cluster analysis, like e.g. small winners, large winners, small losers, large losers. eee) Most large
exporters increased their market share, but very successful groups were also found among small
exporters, especially in the fruit / vegetable market. eeee) Both, border rejections as well as STDF
investments did not reflect a particular structure related to market share development of individual
countries.