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Preferential trade agreements and agricultural trade liberalization in Asia and the Pacific

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  • Mikic, Mia

Abstract

The paper addresses preferential trade agreements in Asia and the Pacific with the objective of identifying their characteristics which can be useful in assessing the effects of their implementation. The paper relies mostly on the Asia-Pacific Trade and Investment Agreements Database (APTIAD) in sourcing data and information for analysis. On 26 February 2007 APTIAD was tracking 125 preferential trade agreements one party of which was a member of ESCAP. Eighty seven of those agreements of various types are in force, 62 of them being bilateral agreements, 11 regional trade agreements (RTAs), and 11 country-bloc agreements (the residual is made up of agreements of different scope, i.e. global and country-plurilateral.). The paper utilizes information on membership and coverage of agreements as well as statistical data on goods trade flows in discussing selected important aspects of preferential trade in Asia and the Pacific: (a) the rapid proliferation of preferential trade and revealed preference for bilateral links; (b) strong tolerance for engagement in multiple trade agreements with the same trading partner; and (c) reluctance to commit to full and quick liberalization in merchandise trade, or expose other than industrial goods trade areas to preferential liberalization. The extent of liberalization of trade in agricultural goods through the PTAs in the region is focus of a separate section which also briefly discusses “new” arguments for agricultural trade protectionism in developing countries. Penultimate section discusses the ways in which PTAs could be harnessed to work as complementary with the multilateral trading regime. Some policy recommendations are offered as well.

Suggested Citation

  • Mikic, Mia, 2007. "Preferential trade agreements and agricultural trade liberalization in Asia and the Pacific," MPRA Paper 2947, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    • Handle: RePEc:pra:mprapa:2947
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    File URL: https://mpra.ub.uni-muenchen.de/2947/1/MPRA_paper_2947.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Yann Duval, 2006. "An exploration of the need for and cost of selected trade facilitation measures in Asia-Pacific in the context of the WTO negotiations," Working Papers 1406, Asia-Pacific Research and Training Network on Trade (ARTNeT), an initiative of UNESCAP and IDRC, Canada..
    2. Parakrama Samaratunga & Kamal Karunagoda & Manoj Thibbotuwaw, 2006. "Regional Agricultural Trade Liberalization Efforts in South Asia: Retrospect and Prospects," ARTNeT Policy Briefs 10, United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP).
    3. Crawford, Jo-Ann & Fiorentino, Roberto V., 2005. "The changing landscape of regional trade agreements," WTO Discussion Papers 8, World Trade Organization (WTO), Economic Research and Statistics Division.
    4. Denis Medvedev, 2010. "Preferential trade agreements and their role in world trade," Review of World Economics (Weltwirtschaftliches Archiv), Springer;Institut für Weltwirtschaft (Kiel Institute for the World Economy), vol. 146(2), pages 199-222, June.
    5. Maurice Schiff & L. Alan Winters, 2003. "Regional Integration and Development," World Bank Publications, The World Bank, number 15172, April.
    6. Nuno Limao, 2006. "Preferential Trade Agreements as Stumbling Blocks for Multilateral Trade Liberalization: Evidence for the United States," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 96(3), pages 896-914, June.
    7. Gary Clyde Hufbauer & Yee Wong, 2005. "Prospects for Regional Free Trade in Asia," Working Paper Series WP05-12, Peterson Institute for International Economics.
    8. Gloria O. Pasadilla, 2006. "Agriculture Liberalization in Preferential Trading Agreements: The Case of ASEAN Free Trade Area," ARTNeT Policy Briefs 8, United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP).
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    More about this item

    Keywords

    preferential trade; multilateral liberalization; bilateral trade agreements; regional trade agreements; agriculture trade; Asia; Pacific; APTIAD;

    JEL classification:

    • F53 - International Economics - - International Relations, National Security, and International Political Economy - - - International Agreements and Observance; International Organizations
    • F15 - International Economics - - Trade - - - Economic Integration
    • F14 - International Economics - - Trade - - - Empirical Studies of Trade

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