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The Economic Structure of International Trade-in-Services Agreements

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  • Robert W. Staiger
  • Alan O. Sykes

Abstract

The existing economics literature on international trade agreements focuses on tariff agreements covering trade in goods, and offers an explanation for core features of the GATT. Tariffs play almost no role in services markets, however, and the existing models cannot account for the dramatically different approach to trade liberalization in agreements such as the WTO General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS). We develop a model through which key features of GATS, including its emphasis on "deep integration" – sector-by-sector negotiations on behind the border policy instruments – can be understood. And we use this model to suggest that there may also be a middle ground for services trade liberalization between the GATS deep-integration approach and the traditional border-policy focused "shallow integration" approach of GATT.

Suggested Citation

  • Robert W. Staiger & Alan O. Sykes, 2016. "The Economic Structure of International Trade-in-Services Agreements," NBER Working Papers 22960, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    • Handle: RePEc:nbr:nberwo:22960
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Joseph Francois & Bernard Hoekman, 2010. "Services Trade and Policy," Journal of Economic Literature, American Economic Association, vol. 48(3), pages 642-692, September.
    2. Robert W. Staiger & Alan O. Sykes, 2011. "International Trade, National Treatment, and Domestic Regulation," The Journal of Legal Studies, University of Chicago Press, vol. 40(1), pages 149-203.
    3. Matteo Fiorini & Mathilde Lebrand, 2016. "The Political Economy of Services Trade Agreements," CESifo Working Paper Series 5927, CESifo.
    4. Bagwell, Kyle & Staiger, Robert W., 2015. "Delocation and trade agreements in imperfectly competitive markets," Research in Economics, Elsevier, vol. 69(2), pages 132-156.
    5. Schwartz, Warren F & Sykes, Alan O, 2002. "The Economic Structure of Renegotiation and Dispute Resolution in the World Trade Organization," The Journal of Legal Studies, University of Chicago Press, vol. 31(1), pages 179-204, January.
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    Cited by:

    1. Lalanne, Alvaro, 2019. "Tendencias del sistema de comercio exterior relevantes para analizar la inserción internacional del Uruguay," Estudios y Perspectivas – Oficina de la CEPAL en Montevideo 45020, Naciones Unidas Comisión Económica para América Latina y el Caribe (CEPAL).

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • F13 - International Economics - - Trade - - - Trade Policy; International Trade Organizations
    • F23 - International Economics - - International Factor Movements and International Business - - - Multinational Firms; International Business

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