Regional Trading Arrangements and Regional Integration

The formation of new or geographically expanded regional trading arrangements is one of the dominant trends in the world economy. This paper reviews the changing nature of regional trading arrangements. In the 1980s and 1990s a new generation of arrangements has gone much beyond the removal of border-trade barriers to the harmonization of non-border instruments such as national subsidies and commodity taxes, standards, business law regulations and competition policy. They also, in some cases, cover service trade and factor trade. These extensions beyond the scope of traditional customs unions and free trade areas pose new questions about the meaning of regional integration. This paper proposes a new definition of regional integration in terms of price convergence and looks at the extent of regional integration in East Asia.     

Regional Initiatives and US Trade Policy in Asia

This article gives an account of US trade policy towards Asia, with particular reference to regional preferential trading agreements. The outcome of fifteen years of US pursuit of regional trade policies could possibly be a network of preferential trade arrangements centred around the USA; a more likely outcome is an increasingly strengthened multilateral system based on the World Trade Organisation (WTO). A stronger WTO may prove capable of constraining even its most powerful members. This outcome is certainly in the long-term interest of the USA.     

RTAs框架下的服务贸易自由化分析与评估

国际服务贸易规则的多边化与区域化"并驾齐驱"已成为国际服务贸易自由化进程中的重要特征。本文旨在对RTAs框架下的服务贸易自由化机制进行分析,并在此基础上对32个经济体在RTAs框架下的服务贸易自由化水平进行量化评估,以期在一定程度上把握区域服务贸易安排在多边服务贸易安排基础上所取得的进展。     

Regionalism: An Overview

Regional trading arrangements are proliferating. This overview considers some of their implications. Section I reviews the paradigm of traditional trade theory which emphasizes the "second best" nature of these arrangements. It also evaluates the conditions under which they are permitted by the GATT. Section II notes that these arrangements increasingly move beyond simply removing internal border barriers toward deeper forms of integration involving common behind-the-border policies and systems of governance. Taking account of these aspects of the arrangements requires a different analytic paradigm, which evaluates these arrangements as an alternative to national governance rather than simply as a means of liberalizing trade. Section III considers existing and emerging regional arrangements in Europe, North America, and Asia in light of these paradigms. J. Japan. Int. Econ., Dec. 1994, 8(4), pp. 365–387. John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, and National Bureau of Economic Research, Cambridge, Massachusetts; and Brookings Institution, Washington, DC.     

Regional trade liberalisation: a theoretical review of dynamic time‐path and stability issues

In recent years, the use of regional trade liberalisation arrangements (RTAs) has proliferated, while multilateral negotiations under the WTO have proceeded slowly, resulting in a debate over the roles of regional and multilateral liberalisation. This paper reviews the key theoretical contributions in the debate over RTAs, especially the recently developed themes addressing dynamic time‐path and stability issues. However, due to the variety of motivations for RTA member countries to expand trading blocs and for non‐members to seek entry, research has found few general conditions under which the formation of RTAs can become the ‘stepping stone’ or ‘stumbling block’ towards global free trade.     

Regional integration in Africa versus higher levels of intra-Africa trade

Regional integration arrangements have mushroomed worldwide, both on intra-regional and extra-regional levels. On an intra-regional level, Africa faces a complicated grid of multiple and overlapping membership of several regional integration organisations, aiming to increase intra-regional trade and cooperation. In this study, a comparative analysis will be executed, based on an intra-regional breakdown of trade, using the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa classification of countries according to geographical region. The level of intra-regional trade will be determined, whereafter the level of inter-regional trade will be established and, lastly, trade with the rest of the world. It seems that despite the high level of regional integration within Africa, it does not necessarily stimulate intra-Africa trade to expected levels as proposed by literature. A regional integration strategy that would cause deeper integration is crucial if the continent is to play a rightful role in the global arena.     

“Large” and “small” regional trading blocs and trade regime bias: A comparison of the EC and CARICOM

‘Large’ and ‘Small’ Regional Trading Blocs and Trade Regime Bias: A Comparison of the EC and CARICOM. — Liberalizing trade on a regional basis may, but does not necessarily, reduce trade (anti-export) bias; the outcome depends upon the characteristics of the regional grouping and the height of external tariffs. There are a priori grounds for expecting trading arrangements for ‘small’ blocs to induce greater trade regime bias than ‘large’ ones. This paper explores the reasons for this, and provides evidence of potential trade regime bias from CARICOM (Barbados) and the EC (UK). The paper also considers to what extent regional commitments may constrain the scope for lowering trade regime bias, and investigates some of the national and regional policy options for lowering the bias associated with ‘small’ regional trade arrangements.     

Regional Trade Arrangements in Africa: Past Performance and the Way Forward

Abstract: Regional trade arrangements (RTAs) in Africa have been ineffective in promoting trade and foreign direct investment. Relatively high external trade barriers and low resource complementarity between member countries limit both intra‐ and extraregional trade. Small market size, poor transport facilities and high trading costs make it difficult for African countries to reap the potential benefits of RTAs. To increase regional trade and investment, African countries need to undertake more broad‐based liberalization and streamline existing RTAs, supported by improvements in infrastructure and trade facilitation. Early action to strengthen the domestic revenue base would help address concerns over revenue losses from trade liberalization.     

The Evolution and Reshaping of Globalization: A Perspective Based on the Development of Regional Trade Agreements

With the weakening role of the World Trade Organization multilateral trading system, the globalization pattern is moving toward regional economic integration. As a result, the number of regional trade agreements (RTAs) has rapidly increased. New trends in international economics and trade, such as the withdrawal of the US from the Trans‐Pacific Partnership and the trade disputes between the US and China, have revealed the intention of the developed countries represented by the US to reshape the direction of globalization. This paper combines the relevant research conclusions and current stylized facts to examine the evolution and reshaping of globalization. We find that: (i) countries have different attitudes toward the recent round of globalization, which are related to changes in the patterns of income distribution within countries caused by the last round of globalization; and (ii) regional economic development is an effective way to reshape globalization. The self‐strengthening effect of the hub country in the trade network has promoted global RTA expansion.     

The Rise of China: Prospects of Regional Trade Policy

China now engages in multilateral trade liberalization as a new member of the WTO. Concurrently, the number of regional trade agreements is increasing worldwide. China and its trading partners would benefit from increased regional liberalization. Using a gravity equation for 23 Asia-Pacific countries between 1992 and 2000, we show that ASEAN and APEC currently have small effects on Asia-Pacific exports, which are mainly influenced by growth, trade barriers, and common language. However, we find that China’s participation in regional agreements has large export potentials, not only with respect to ASEAN, but also in a broad agreement including South and East Asian countries. JEL no. F15, F17     

The Level of Trade Integration in the Eurasian Economic Union

This paper has presented an approach to measuring the trade integration in the Eurasian Economic Union based on the decomposition of foreign trade turnover and the allocation of nonfuel trade in the tradebalance analysis, as well as the importance of trading partners and economic dependence in integration associations. The advantages of the parameter of foreign trade nonfuel quota that characterize the interrelation of the objectives of liberalization of the economy in the model of regional integration of the Eurasian Economic Union have been substantiated.     

The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership: new paradigm or old wine in a new bottle?

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is currently negotiating with its six trading partners to form a new trade agreement called the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP). The RCEP intends to harmonise rules and regulations across multiple overlapping free trade agreements in the region, and thereby attract new members. However, it faces several challenges. The mention of a flexibility principle and the ‘ASEAN Way’ of decision‐making has led many to believe that the RCEP will be yet another low‐quality regional trade agreement. However, the RCEP presents all ASEAN members with the opportunity to take a role in setting the agenda for a region‐wide agreement. Hence, despite its challenges, ASEAN must make the effort to reach an attractive RCEP vis‐à‐vis other competing regional agreements. Accordingly, this paper describes what the RCEP is intended to be, how it emerged, and the issues that might affect the agreement's final quality, in order to evaluate if it will establish a new paradigm or a repackaged version of ASEAN's existing trade agreements.     

Why Doesn't Regional Integration Improve Income Convergence in Africa?*

Abstract: This paper investigates why regional integration does not improve income convergence in Africa, despite the common goal of more open and freer trade. Based on empirical analysis using African countries data, the paper presents the evidence that there has been little progress in income convergence in Africa. The paper shows that despite the importance of regional integration there has been limited progress and prospects of the African integration process are not as promising as would be expected for such an important pillar in Africa's development agenda.     

福建省技术交易的现状、问题与对策研究

技术交易是推动科技与经济紧密结合的重要途径。利用福建省 2011年至2016年技术交易合同数据,分析福建省技术交易的概况,采用聚类分析法探究技术交易流向的地域特征,指出技术交易中存在的问题,并在此基础上提出促进福建省技术交易发展的可行对策。     

A Comparative Evaluation and Prognosis of Asia Pacific Bilateral and Regional Trade Arrangements

This paper provides an evaluation of the growing regional and bilateral trade arrangements in Asia and discusses some plausible scenarios for Asian regionalism. Changes in international relations, information communications technology, the knowledge-based economy and deregulation have altered trade modalities in the international political economy. The 'new regionalism' activities in Asia appear to be a response to these international developments and to be complementary to WTO-managed trade liberalisation.     

国际区域一体化发展战略研究综述

区域一体化是促进经济快速发展、转变国家和地区发展方式的重要经济形式。对国际区域一体化的概念进行详细阐述,基于新经济地理学的角度对区域一体化在推动国家和地区经济发展上起到的作用以及出现的问题进行分析。同时,对区域一体化和经济全球化的关系进行论述。区域一体化是经济全球化发展的重要桥梁,对促进全球经济格局转变、经济全球化以及贸易自由化具有重要意义。最后,针对区域一体化发展形式下对中国经济发展提出建议,对经济发展过程中面临的机遇与挑战进行分析,并对中国未来的经济发展进行展望。     

日本依托区域经济一体化主导国际经贸规则制定权的战略分析

以安倍第二次出任日本首相为分水岭,起步晚、发展迅速的日本区域经济一体化战略发生了巨大的变化:由昔日高度重视通过参与、组建区域经济一体化组织来确保日本经济稳定发展的资源供给、不断开拓的海外市场转向了依托参与、组建区域经济一体化组织来主导国际经贸规则制定权。为此,安倍政府实施了以TPP/CPTPP、RCEP、中日韩FTA等区域多边贸易协定为龙头,以日欧EPA、日美贸易协定、日美数字贸易协定、日英EPA等双边自由贸易协定为两翼的区域经济一体化战略,使日本"成为在区域层面以及双边层面创造规则的国家"。     

The Rise of Anti‐dumping: Does Regionalism Promote Administered Protection?

Miranda, Torres and Ruiz (1998) and Finger (1993) have documented the increased incidence of anti-dumping in recent years and its spread beyond developed to developing and transitional economies. The countries that have been the most prolific in launching anti-dumping cases have largely been members of discriminatory trading arrangements such as NAFTA while the affected (accused) countries have often been outside regional trading blocs. This study documents and analyses the asymmetry in anti-dumping actions, focusing on the propensity of members of regional trading blocs to use anti-dumping actions against developing countries in East Asia.     

对外贸易、市场整合与地区经济增长——基于bootstrap面板因果检验

本文利用省级面板数据首先证实对外贸易、市场整合与地区经济增长存在收敛的趋势,中部地区的市场整合程度高于东、西部地区。在此基础上,运用bootstrap面板因果检验按东、中、西3个区域面板重点分析个体省份对外贸易、市场整合与地区经济增长的关系。结果表明,对外贸易和市场分割有助于省域经济增长,不同区域均存在对外贸易替代区际贸易的倾向。沿海地区对外贸易在促进地区经济增长的同时缺乏经济发展反哺对外贸易的循环机制,内陆部分省份的对外贸易是经济增长的自然外溢。地区市场分割或整合是区域异质性下地方政府的人为策略。为了加快全国市场一体化建设,避免区域"马太效应"的扩大,应促使东部地区率先打破市场分割,中部地区的崛起也对此具有重要意义。     

Openness,Regional Trade Agreements and Growth: Evidence from Asia*

This paper assesses the relationship between regional trade agreements, trade integration and economic growth in 21 South and South‐East Asian countries over the period from 1980 to 2004. We aim to answer the following questions. First, how does the trade policy of a given country (and countries within the same region) affect a nation's domestic growth? Second, should developing economies in South and South‐East Asia engage in regional trade agreements (RTA) or move towards broad liberalization? Our results show that openness of either a single country or of its neighbors does not affect a nation's growth and that the impacts of RTA are unclear (if not detrimental to growth in some cases, once endogeneity is accounted for). Panel Granger‐causality tests running from openness to growth yield mixed results and some conclusions depend on the particular subsample under scrutiny.