In government and economic contexts, Rollback metaphorically denotes action to repeal, dismantle or otherwise diminish the effect of a law or regulation.
The term was utilised by the MAI Negotiating Group in the 1990s in the context of seeking to enforce legislative progress toward "free trade". Rollback of trade-protective measures was to be made compulsory under the agreement. <blockquote>Rollback is the liberalisation process by which the reduction and eventual elimination of nonconforming measures to the MAI would take place. It is a dynamic element linked with standstill, which provides its starting point. Combined with standstill, it would produce a âÂÂratchet effectâÂÂ, where any new liberalisation measures would be âÂÂlocked inâ so they could not be rescinded or nullified over time.</blockquote>