Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[hiromichi]

What does "in town" mean?

So GATT became the only multilateral trade game in town.
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Hiromichi

[lotus]

Hi Hiromichi,

It comes from the phrase "It's the only game in town." It means that it's the only one available (the only game that can be played). It usually means that there is no choice but that choice. It invariably (most of the time) means that there is no competition.

In your sentence, it means that GATT (General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade) became the main (or only) multi-lateral trade treaty used or available. It can also mean that GATT is so strong that no other policy, or proposed policy, can compete with it - or, it can mean that GATT (a treaty of the WTO, World Trade Organization) is so rigid that it won't change it's own policies. It sounds like someone doesn't like the GATT agreement.


--lotus

[hiromichi]

lotus, I fully understood. Thank you very much.
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Hiromichi