Preferential Trading Arrangements

What are preferential trading arrangements? The GATT/WTO articles call for nondiscrimination among trading partners. But as mentioned earlier, Article 24 provides for an exception. Countries may enter into a preferential trading arrangement (PTA) under conditions described later. Many PTAs are now in force around...

NAFTA and USMCA

How are NAFTA and USMCA different? The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) came into force at the beginning of 1994. It was an “FTA plus” between Canada, Mexico, and the US. There had been some strenuous opposition to the preferential trading arrangement (PTA)...

Ancient Associations

Even in prehistoric times, secret societies influenced local governance and established regional networks that provided members with safe passage and preferential trading status. But far from fostering harmonious socioeconomic cooperation, these societies exacerbated social inequality and competition. Brian Hayden addresses these issues in The Power of Ritual in Prehistory .