Suchergebnisse

Since becoming a WTO member in 2001, China has negotiated numerous regional trade agreements with astonishing speed. This paper provides an overview of China's current free trade agreements and examines the economic importance of two major Asian regional trade agreements for China. The academic literature often treats China's free trade agreements as driven more by political, rather than economic, interests. The agreements are seen as shallow and concluded with minor economic partners. In fact, China's approach to trade agreements has evolved over time and cumulative impact of these agreements has been positive for trade between China and its agreement partners. The recently concluded Asian regional free trade agreement, the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), should positively influence trade for both China and other participating Asian countries. China could also benefit economically from joining the other major regional trade agreement, the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).

AbstractMajor economies such as the United States, European Union, Japan, and even China have shifted trade negotiating emphasis toward 'mega‐regional' agreements, including the Trans‐Pacific Partnership (TPP), the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP), and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP). This paper explores why countries have chosen to pursue mega‐regionals, what is likely to be contained in the agreements, and some of their potential implications for the multilateral trading system under the World Trade Organization (WTO). I call for revisiting the historical approach of introducing plurilateral and critical mass agreements – that would cover some of the mega‐regionals' new provisions – into the WTO so as to avoid a more substantial, long‐run erosion of the relevance of the nondiscriminatory system. I also highlight potential reforms to the WTO's dispute settlement procedure that are required to strengthen its already prominent role.

This article examines the capacity of regional trade agreements (RTAs) to assist and foster democracy in their respective regions. While the principal raison d'être of RTAs is to stimulate economic growth among its member states, several regional trade associations have embedded democratic requirements into their governance documents. These requirements elevate democracy to a fundamental value of the associations, and mandate (in most instances) that both current and candidate members possess and uphold democratic political systems and practices. This article examines the regional impact of democracy requirements in trade blocs by exploring four leading RTAs: the European Union, NAFTA Mercosur, and ASEAN. The article finds that the ability to promote democracy is impacted by three primary RTA characteristics: (1) the material benefits of membership; (2) the intensity of political and economic integration among member states; and (3) the level of democratic consolidation exhibited by member states.Este artículo examina la capacidad de los acuerdos comerciales regionales para ayudar y fomentar la democracia en sus respectivas regiones. Mientras que la principal razón de ser de los acuerdos comerciales es la de estimular el crecimiento económico entre sus estados miembros, muchas asociaciones comerciales regionales han incluido requerimientos democráticos dentro de sus documentos de gobierno. Estos requerimientos elevan a la democracia como un valor fundamental de las asociaciones, y ordenan que (en la mayoría de los casos) tanto los estados miembro como los candidatos, posean y mantengan los sistemas políticos democráticos y sus prácticas. Este artículo examina el impacto regional de los requerimientos de la democracia en bloques comerciales al explorar cuatro acuerdos comerciales regionales destacados: la Unión Europea, TLCAN, Mercosur, y ASEAN. El estudio encuentra que la habilidad de promover la democracia es influida por tres características de dichos acuerdos: (1) los beneficios materiales de la membresía; (2) la intensidad de la integración política y económica entre sus miembros; y (3) el nivel de la consolidación democrática demostrada por sus estados miembros.

"Regional trade agreements are playing a greater role in shaping trade and investment rules around the world. To date the study of preferential agreements has focused on their impact on tariff preferences, but as tariffs are reduced rule-making becomes more important in trade and investment. This book addresses the role of regional and bilateral agreements in rule-making; provides an analytical framework for assessing the impact of regional and other preferential agreements on rule-making; and illustrates the role of regional agreements in a multi-level process of rule-making.--Publisher's description."--Source other than the Library of Congress

Regional trade agreements are playing a greater role in shaping trade and investment rules around the world. To date the study of preferential agreements has focused on their impact on tariff preferences, but as tariffs are reduced rule-making becomes more important in trade and investment. This book addresses the role of regional and bilateral agreements in rule-making; provides an analytical framework for assessing the impact of regional and other preferential agreements on rule-making; and illustrates the role of regional agreements in a multi-level process of rule-making. Seven detaile

This article describes the spread of regional trading arrangements, the rules within the WTO for regional trading arrangements and the possiblility of changing these rules.