The Uruguay Round of the GATT began a process of phasing out the use of voluntary export restraints. Why did they come into widespread use in the

The Uruguay Round of the GATT began a process of phasing out the use of voluntary export restraints. Why did they come into widespread use in the 1980’s? For example, given that VERs are a form of quotas, and that they were create quota rents and a larger reduction in national welfare than tariffs, why did nations use them instead of tariffs?