Economists have repeatedly warned against them, NGOs have fought
them, and some governments have begrudgingly (at least in appearance)
signed them. Yet, in the last twenty years the growth in number of
preferential trade agreements (PTAs) has been unabated. Even more
strikingly, their scope has broadened while their number was
increasing. Deep integration provisions in PTAs have now become
ubiquitous.
Gaining market access or preserving existing preferences has
remained an important motivation for acceding to PTAs. But with the
liberalization of trade around the world and the related diminishing
size of preferential rents, the growing success of PTAs cannot be only
explained by traditional market access motives (even factoring for the
possible substitution of tariff for other less transparent forms of
protection). Countries are looking beyond market access in PTAs. They
are interested in a host of objectives, including importing higher
policy standards, strengthening regional policy coordination,
locking-in domestic reforms, and even addressing foreign policy
issues.
This handbook on PTA policies for development offers an introduction
into the world of modern preferential trade agreements. It goes beyond
the traditional paradigm of trade creation versus trade diversion to
address the economic and legal aspects of the regulatory policies that
are contained in today‘s PTAs. The book maps the landscape of
PTAs, summarizes the theoretical arguments, political economy, and
development dimensions of PTAs, and presents the current practice in
the main policy areas typically covered in PTAs (from agriculture
policy, rules of origin, customs unions, trade remedies, product
standards, technical barriers, to behind the border issues related to
investment, trade facilitation, competition, government procurement,
intellectual property, labor rights, human rights, environment,
migration, and dispute resolution). These are also usually the policies
driven by powerful trading blocs as they strive to influence the
evolution of the global trading system.
"Policy makers in developed and developing countries
pondering what kind of regional arrangement works best for them will
find this handbook to be a helpful guide. Advanced students of
international trade will likewise find it a useful
resource.".
— Choice magazine, January
2012
- Shipping Weight: 2.62 lbs (1.19 kgs)
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