Provoked by the economic crises in the rich world since 2008, two shadows are cast on the multilateral trading system, institutionalised as the World Trade Organisation (WTO). Rich countries have increasingly become protectionist, while at the same time opting for regional trade agreements with binding and reciprocal international pacts over the movement of goods and services. In between are least developed countries (LDCs) that are lined up to become members of this Organisation, which Director General Pascal Lamy argues is the norm rather than the exception. Lamy was here last week attending the African Union (AU) Summit and met Prime Minister Meles Zenawi. In an exclusive interview, he told Tamrat G. Giorgis, managing editor, about the functioning relationship he has developed with Meles.