scholarly journals WTO Compatibility and Rules of Origin – Assessing Bilateral Trade Agreements between Latin America and East Asia

2009 ◽  
Vol 28 (1) ◽  
pp. 69-81 ◽  
Author(s):  
Howard Loewen

Some theorists and practitioners argue that the stability of the global trade system is endangered by trade distorting effects of regional Free Trade Agreements. Does this also hold true for interregional FTAs? Based on criteria, such as scope, rules of origin and WTO notification, it is argued here that interregional FTAs between East Asia and Latin America do not fully confirm the distortion thesis, as the positive effects of WTO-plus elements in the examined FTAs and their positive notification record to the WTO signify. Yet, overlaps between different rules of origin may lessen the multilateral effectiveness of interregional FTAs.

2018 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 24-53 ◽  
Author(s):  
Farhat Mahmood ◽  
Juthathip Jongwanich

This article examines the effects of in-effect free trade agreements (FTA) on exports of Pakistan using the extended gravity model of bilateral trade flows. The effects of FTAs are measured by finding the differences between most-favoured nation (MFN) and preferential tariff rates (the tariff gap) as well as the zero-one binary dummy variable. Our systematic comparison of both the measures of an FTA suggests that the estimation based on the tariff gap is consistent with the observed changes in the trade pattern of Pakistan. Pakistan–China FTA (PCFTA) has the largest stimulating effect for Pakistan’s exports, while the effects of other FTAs are much smaller and not much different from each other. The effects of FTAs on agricultural products tend to be higher than those of manufacturing ones, suggesting ability of firms in the former to better comply with imposed rules of origin (ROO) than the latter. At the one-digit Standard of International Trade Classification, the effect of FTAs is mixed across products and FTAs.


2021 ◽  
Vol 23 (Fall 2021) ◽  
pp. 193-211
Author(s):  
Kaan Yiğenoğlu

This article scrutinizes relations between economic diplomacy and free trade agreements by focusing on the Turkey-UK free trade agreements which came into force in 2021. Accordingly, the article first introduces the concept of economic diplomacy, an important issue as it has been shown that bilateral trade agreements, nowadays preferred by many countries, can be used as a tool of economic diplomacy. The article then discusses the history and development of free trade agreements signed by Turkey, including its long-running experience of economic integration with the European Union. Although Turkey began establishing free trade agreements in the 1990s, it has been concentrating on and accelerating its use since 2000. Based on economic and political reasons underlying the free economic agreements, the reasons why Turkey and the UK have reached such an agreement are summarized. Economic relations between the two countries are then analyzed and the details of the agreement are investigated in the context of the changes that it provides.


2019 ◽  
Vol 78 (310) ◽  
pp. 137
Author(s):  
Jorge Alberto López Arévalo ◽  
Óscar Rodil Marzábal

<p>Este trabajo estudia los intercambios bilaterales de China con México, Chile, Costa Rica y Perú desde la óptica del comercio intraindustrial durante 1995-2017. En particular, se analizan las diferencias en el patrón de inserción intraindustrial en un contexto marcado por la existencia (Chile, Costa Rica y Perú) o no (México) de acuerdos de libre comercio con China. El estudio se completa con un análisis econométrico (efectos fijos) de los determinantes del comercio intraindustrial. Los resultados muestran una inserción de bajo perfil intraindustrial, con la excepción de algunas partidas específicas relativas a productos eléctricos y de la industria automotriz. Por otro lado, se confirma el efecto positivo del tamaño de la economía, de la inversión extranjera directa y de la diferenciación de producto, así como negativo de la diferencia en el nivel de ingreso; mientras que existe una indefinición en el papel de los acuerdos de libre comercio con China.<br /><br /></p><p>THE TRADE INTEGRATION OF CHINA IN LATIN AMERICA</p><p> </p><p><strong>ABSTRACT</strong><br />This paper studies China’s bilateral trade with Mexico, Chile, Costa Rica and Peru from the perspective of intra-industrial trade during 1995-2017. In particular, the differences in the pattern of intra-industrial insertion are analyzed in a context characterized by the existence (Chile, Costa Rica and Peru) or not (Mexico) of free trade agreements with China. An econometric analysis (fixed effects) of the determinants of intra-industrial trade completes the study. The results show a low intra-industrial profile, except for some specific items related to electrical products and the automotive industry. The positive effect of the size of the economy, foreign direct investment and product differentiation is also confirmed, as well as the negative effect of the difference in income level. However, there is an undefined role for free trade agreements with China.</p>


2017 ◽  
Vol 111 ◽  
pp. 92-95
Author(s):  
Kathleen Claussen

These remarks are derived from a forthcoming work considering the future of international trade law. Compared with most features of the international legal system, the regional and bilateral trade law system is in the early stages of its evolution. For example, the United States is a party to fourteen free trade agreements currently in force, all but two of which have entered into force since 2000. The recent proliferation of agreements, particularly bilateral and regional agreements, is not unique to the United States. The European Union recently concluded trade agreement negotiations with Canada, Singapore, and Vietnam to add to its twenty-seven agreements in force and is negotiating approximately ten additional bilateral or multilateral agreements. In the Asia-Pacific Region, the number of regional and bilateral free trade agreements has grown exponentially since the conclusion of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Free Trade Area of 1992. At that time, the region counted five such agreements in force. Today, the number totals 140 with another seventy-nine under negotiation or awaiting entry into force. The People's Republic of China is negotiating half a dozen bilateral trade agreements at present to top off the sixteen already in effect. India likewise is engaged in at least ten trade agreement negotiations. The World Trade Organization (WTO) reports 267 agreements of this sort in force among its members as of July 1, 2016.


2009 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 119-139 ◽  
Author(s):  
Innwon Park ◽  
Soonchan Park

The spaghetti bowl phenomenon expected from the proliferating East Asian regional trade agreements (RTAs) is worrisome. In particular, the complicated web of hub-and-spoke type of overlapping free trade agreements (FTAs) can result in high costs for verifying rules of origin. As an alternative policy option to avoid the negative effect of trade deflection, customs unions (CUs) should be examined. Most of the theoretical analyses on the formation of CUs highlight stronger positive welfare effects compared to FTAs. However, there is a lack of empirical evidence to support the second-best theory of customs unions. This paper is an attempt to fill this gap by applying two methodologies: an ex ante simulation approach and an ex-post econometric approach. We quantitatively estimate the trade effect of CUs and FTAs by adopting a Gravity regression analysis. In general, we find that a CU is a superior type of RTA to an FTA in terms of creating more intra-bloc trade. In addition to analyzing the trade effects of RTAs according to type, we quantitatively evaluate the welfare and output effects of CUs for East Asia (an ASEAN+3 CU and a China-Japan-Korea CU) compared to FTAs by applying a computable general equilibrium model analysis. The East Asian CUs adopt a system of common external tariffs (CET) based on simple-averaged, import-weighted, consumption-weighted, and minimum rates. Overall, we find that the ASEAN+3 CU with the minimum CET are the most desirable type of RTA for both East Asian member countries and the world economy as a whole.


2005 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 287-314 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher Dent

AbstractSince the late 1990s there has been a rapid proliferation of bilateral free trade agreement (FTA) projects in East Asia and the Asia-Pacific, regions previously largely devoid of FTA activity by comparison to others. As this trend has intensified, so have discussions on whether it will help advance regional co-operation and integration. This paper examines the nature of FTAs themselves and the main causes of East Asia and Asia-Pacific FTAs. The 'lattice regionalism' hypothesis is considered: whether dense economic bilateralism provides a sub-structural foundation on which economic regionalism (i.e. co-operation and integration) can build. Closely related is the issue of competing FTA models and modalities in the Asia-Pacific, and special attention is afforded to the 'asymmetric neoliberal' FTA model of the United States and the 'developmental–industrial' FTA model championed by Japan. It is argued that the contrasts between these make the emergence of an Asia-Pacific FTA unlikely in even the distant future. Japan's FTA model is also considered relative to perhaps East Asia's most important FTA project, the ASEAN–China FTA (ACFTA), and we discuss how bilateral FTA developments in the region more generally may or may not lead to enhanced regional economic co-operation and integration in East Asia.


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