Multilateralizing Regionalism: Challenges for the Global Trading System - Softcover

Baldwin, Richard

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0521738105 ISBN 13: 9780521738101

Publisher: Cambridge University Press, 2009

Synopsis

Regional trade agreements (RTAs) have proliferated around the world in the past two decades, and now nearly all members of the WTO are party to at least one. Besides tariffs and rules of origin regulating trade in goods, many RTAs now include provisions on services, investments, technical barriers to trade and competition rules, as well as a host of issues not directly related to trade. The geographic reach of RTAs is expanding, with transcontinental agreements spreading forcefully alongside intra-regional agreements. 'Multilateralizing Regionalism' was the title of a major conference held from 10–12 September 2007 at the WTO in Geneva. Brought together in this publication, the conference papers achieve two things. First, they marshall detailed, new empirical work on the nature of the 'Spaghetti Bowl' and the problems it poses for the multilateral trade system. Second, they contribute fresh and creative thinking on how to 'tame the tangle' of regional trade agreements.

About this title

About the Authors

Patrick Low is Chief Economist (Director of Economic Research and Statistics) at the World Trade Organization.

Richard Baldwin is Professor of International Economics at the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies, Geneva.

Edition details

• Publisher: Cambridge University Press
• Publication date: 2009
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0521738105
• ISBN 13: 9780521738101
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 742