Regional Trade Agreements and the WTO Legal System

Regional Trade Agreements and the WTO Legal System PDF Author: Lorand Bartels
Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA
ISBN:
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 648

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Book Description
'Regional Trade Agreements and the WTO Legal System' introduces the economic & political underpinnings of regional trade agreements, their constitutional functions, & their role as a locus for integrating trade & human rights.

Regional Trade Agreements and the WTO Legal System

Regional Trade Agreements and the WTO Legal System PDF Author: Lorand Bartels
Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA
ISBN:
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 648

Get Book

Book Description
'Regional Trade Agreements and the WTO Legal System' introduces the economic & political underpinnings of regional trade agreements, their constitutional functions, & their role as a locus for integrating trade & human rights.

Regional Trade Agreements and the Multilateral Trading System

Regional Trade Agreements and the Multilateral Trading System PDF Author: Rohini Acharya
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
ISBN: 1107161649
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 753

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Book Description
This book explores bilateral and regional trade agreements, and examines how they are changing international trade rules. It offers an important contribution to the current debate on the role of the WTO in regulating international trade and how WTO rules relate to new rules being developed by regional trade agreements.

Regional Trade Agreements

Regional Trade Agreements PDF Author: David A. Gantz
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Law
Languages : en
Pages : 544

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Book Description
The proliferation of regional trade agreements ("RTAs") is one of the most economically significant, politically important and, for some, troubling developments within the world trading system since the WTO Agreements entered into force in 1995. The WTO Secretariat has predicted that by 2010 nearly 400 such "preferential" trade agreements could be in force, with many WTO Member States being party to multiple RTAs. This movement toward increased regionalism may accelerate if the Doha Development Round of WTO negotiations remains stalemated, but will likely continue regardless of whether Doha is ultimately concluded. This volume is designed to introduce the reader to the world of RTAs, for general understanding of the place of RTAs in the global trading system, appreciation of the context and legal content of particular RTAs, and as a basis for further study and analysis. (An extensive bibliography and list of Internet links are included.) Part I discusses the economic, policy and developmental issues arising from regionalism, and then considers the WTO legal regime as it affects and is affected by RTAs. The focus there is on free trade agreements ("FTAs") and customs unions ("CUs") regulated by Article XXIV of GATT 1994 or Article V of the General Agreement on Trade in Services, and on efforts within the WTO regime to minimize the negative effects of such departures from the core GATT/WTO principle of non-discrimination (most-favored nation treatment). Part II discusses the multiple FTAs concluded by the United States with various trading partners since 1985, beginning with an analysis of the political, legal and policy considerations that affect the United States'' ability to conclude international trade agreements. Extensive coverage is given to the North American Free Trade Agreement ("NAFTA") and to the Central American -- Dominican Republic -- United States FTA ("CAFTA-DR"). NAFTA is important because it represents by far the largest trade volume generated under any U.S. FTA, and because it has become the model for most subsequent U.S. FTAs, as well as many concluded by other nations. CAFTA-DR embodies legal changes reflecting ten years'' experience under NAFTA. It also exemplifies the increasing use of FTAs by the United States as a mechanism for encouraging economic development, democratic institutions and the rule of law. Analysis at varying levels of detail is provided for all other U.S. FTAs, including those with Colombia, Panama and Korea, for which Congressional approval is pending, and for the unique bilateral trade agreement with Vietnam. Part III analyzes five other important RTAs: The European Union ("EU"), Central American Common Market, MERCOSUR, South African Customs Union, and ASEAN FTA. These diverse accords each play an important role in the intra-regional political and economic relations of the parties, and exemplify a broad range of ambitious approaches to expanding intra-regional trade and commerce on four continents. The EU is likely the most successful RTA in history, and serves as a model for other CUs, including those discussed in Part III. Like globalization, the RTA phenomenon is here to stay. WTO member government officials, international practitioners and law students aspiring to careers in international trade law must learn to deal effectively with the challenges and opportunities presented by such agreements. "Regional Trade Agreements: Law, Policy and Practice makes a useful contribution to existing literature and will be particularly helpful to governmental officials, academics, practitioners, and postgraduate students wishing to learn more about the how and what of RTAs. Readers searching for information about a particular agreement can gain knowledge and understanding by reading a single chapter dealing with a particular agreement, but reading the entire book will allow the reader to more fully benefit from both the insight and experience of the author as well as to fully understand the interplay between politics, economics, and law in the RTA negotiating and implementation process." -- World Trade Review "By presenting a comprehensive introduction both to RTAs in general, and by providing comprehensive introductions to many RTAs that are in force throughout the world today, Professor Gantz has written a text that should be used by both practitioners and students who wish to gain an understanding of RTAs and their relationship with international trade and foreign relations." -- Trade, Law and Development "Gantz expertly weaves economic and political considerations into his legal analysis.... Regional Trade Agreements: Law, Policy and Practice makes a useful contribution to existing literature and will be particularly helpful to governmental officials, academics, practitioners, and postgraduate students wishing to learn more about the how and what of RTAs." -- The Journal of World Trade Review

Rethinking the World Trade Order

Rethinking the World Trade Order PDF Author: Mohammad F. A. Nsour
Publisher: Sidestone Press
ISBN: 9088900361
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 378

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Book Description
Regional Trade Agreements (RTAs) have proliferated at an unprecedented pace since the creation of the World Trade Organization (WTO). Although the WTO legally recognizes countries' entitlement to form RTAs, neither the WTO nor parties to RTAs have an unequivocal understanding of the relationship between the WTO and RTAs. In other words, the legal controversies, the result of uncertainty regarding the application of the WTO/GATT laws, risk undermining the objectives of the multilateral trade system. This research tackles a phenomenon that is widely believed to be heavily economic and political. It highlights the economic and political aspects of regionalism, but largely concentrates on the legal dimension of regionalism. The main argument of the book is that the first step to achieving harmony between multilateralism and regionalism is the identification of the legal uncertainties that regionalism produces when countries form RTAs without taking into account the substantive and procedural aspect of the applicable WTO/ GATT laws. The book calls for the creation of a legal instrument (i.e. agreement on RTAs) that combines all of the applicable law on RTAs, and simultaneously clarifies the legal language used therein. Likewise, the WTO should have a proactive role, not merely as a coordinator of RTAs, but as a watchdog for the multilateral system that has the power to prosecute violating RTAs. The author is aware that political concerns are top priorities for governments and policy makers when dealing with the regionalism problematic. Hence, legal solutions or proposals are not sufficient to create a better international trade system without the good will of the WTO Members who are, in fact, the players who are striving to craft more regional trade arrangements.

A History of Law and Lawyers in the GATT/WTO

A History of Law and Lawyers in the GATT/WTO PDF Author: Gabrielle Marceau
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
ISBN: 1316299996
Category : Law
Languages : en
Pages : 689

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Book Description
How did a treaty that emerged in the aftermath of the Second World War, and barely survived its early years, evolve into one of the most influential organisations in international law? This unique book brings together original contributions from an unprecedented number of eminent current and former GATT and WTO staff members, including many current and former Appellate Body members, to trace the history of law and lawyers in the GATT/WTO and explore how the nature of legal work has evolved over the institution's sixty-year history. In doing so, it paints a fascinating portrait of the development of the rule of law in the multilateral trading system, and allows some of the most important personalities in GATT and WTO history to share their stories and reflect on the WTO's remarkable journey from a 'provisionally applied treaty' to an international organisation defined by its commitment to the rule of law.

The World Trade Organization

The World Trade Organization PDF Author: International Trade Law Center
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
ISBN: 0387226885
Category : Law
Languages : en
Pages : 3117

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Book Description
The editors have succeeded in bringing together an excellent mix of leading scholars and practitioners. No book on the WTO has had this wide a scope before or covered the legal framework, economic and political issues, current and would-be countries and a outlook to the future like these three volumes do. 3000 pages, 80 chapters in 3 volumes cover a very interdiscplinary field that touches upon law, economics and politics.

The WTO as a Legal System

The WTO as a Legal System PDF Author: N. David Palmeter
Publisher: Cameron May
ISBN: 1874698341
Category : Commercial policy
Languages : en
Pages : 371

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Book Description


The World Trade Organization

The World Trade Organization PDF Author: Mitsuo Matsushita
Publisher: Oxford University Press
ISBN: 0199571856
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 942

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Book Description
This is a comprehensive overview of the law and practice of the World Trade Organization. It begins with the institutional law of the WTO, moving eventually to the consequences of globalization. New chapters on Trade in Agriculture and on Government Procurement and Trade.

Regional Trade Agreements and the Multilateral Trading System

Regional Trade Agreements and the Multilateral Trading System PDF Author: Rohini Acharya
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
ISBN: 1316889416
Category : Law
Languages : en
Pages : 753

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Book Description
This volume contains a collection of studies examining trade-related issues negotiated in regional trade agreements (RTAs) and how RTAs are related to the WTO's rules. While previous work has focused on subsets of RTAs, these studies are based on what is probably the largest dataset used to date, and highlight key issues that have been negotiated in all RTAs notified to the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) and the World Trade Organization (WTO). New rules within RTAs are compared to rules agreed upon by WTO members. The extent of their divergences and the potential implications for parties to RTAs, as well as for WTO members that are not parties to RTAs, are examined. This volume makes an important contribution to the current debate on the role of the WTO in regulating international trade and how WTO rules relate to new rules being developed by RTAs.

Developing Countries in the WTO Legal System

Developing Countries in the WTO Legal System PDF Author: Chantal Thomas
Publisher: Oxford University Press
ISBN: 0195383613
Category : Language Arts & Disciplines
Languages : en
Pages : 536

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Book Description
With contributions from some of the leading experts in international trade, law, and economics, Joel P. Trachtman and Chantal Thomas have compiled a comprehensive volume that looks at the positioning of developing countries within the WTO system. These chapters address some of the most pressing issues facing these countries, while reflecting on Robert E. Hudec's groundbreaking book, Developing Countries in the GATT Legal System. In his landmark contribution, Hudec argued against preferential and non-reciprocal treatment for developing countries. He did so on the basis of a combination of economic, political and legal insights that persuasively demonstrated that non-reciprocal treatment would not benefit developing countries. It is a testament to Hudec's legacy that his analysis is still the object of scholarly discussion more than 20 years later. The first part of this book evaluates the general situation of developing countries within the WTO. The second part examines market access and competition law within these countries. Lastly, it discusses the special arrangements these countries have with international financial institutions, the developing country's capacity to litigate, and an analysis of the country's level of participation in WTO dispute settlements.