Trade agreement

A trade agreement (also known as trade pact) is a wide-ranging taxes, tariff and trade treaty that often includes investment guarantees. It exists when two or more countries agree on terms that help them trade with each other. The most common trade agreements are of the preferential and free trade types, which are concluded in order to reduce (or eliminate) tariffs, quotas and other trade restrictions on items traded between the signatories.

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Types of trading arrangements (arranged by intensity of economic integration)

The logic of formal trade agreements is that they outline what is agreed upon and the punishments for deviation from the rules set in the agreement.[1] Trade agreements therefore make misunderstandings less likely, and create confidence on both sides that cheating will be punished; this increases the likelihood of long-term cooperation.[1] An international organization, such as the IMF, can further incentivize cooperation by monitoring compliance with agreements and reporting third countries of the violations.[1] Monitoring by international agencies may be needed to detect non-tariff barriers, which are disguised attempts at creating trade barriers.[1]

Trade pacts are frequently politically contentious since they may change economic customs and deepen interdependence with trade partners. Regulatory changes may also be contentious. For instance, trade agreements have been used by nicotine- and alcohol-industry lobbyists to block, delay, and weaken public health measures like health warning labels.[2] Free trade agreements have also attempted to regulate internet use,[3] extend and strengthen legal monopolies,[4][5][6] and change criminal law, privacy law, healthcare,[7] labour law,[4] and environmental law. Increasing efficiency through "free trade" is a common goal. For the most part, governments are supportive of further trade agreements.

There have been however some concerns expressed by the WTO. According to Pascal Lamy, Director-General of the WTO, the proliferation of regional trade agreements (RTAs) "...is breeding concern — concern about incoherence, confusion, exponential increase of costs for business, unpredictability and even unfairness in trade relations."[8] The position of the WTO is that while the typical trade agreements (called preferential or regional by the WTO) are useful to a degree, it is much more beneficial to focus on global agreements in the WTO framework such as the negotiations of the current Doha round.

The anti-globalization movement opposes such agreements almost by definition, but some groups normally allied within that movement, e.g. green parties, seek fair trade or safe trade provisions that moderate real and perceived ill effects of globalization.

Classification of trade pacts

By number and type of signatories

There are three different types of trade agreements. The first is unilateral trade agreement,[9] this is what happens when a country wants certain restrictions to be enforced but no other countries want them to be imposed. This also allows countries to decrease the amount of trade restrictions. That is also something that does not happen often and could impair a country.

The second is classified as bilateral (BTA) when signed between two sides, where each side could be a country (or other customs territory), a trade bloc or an informal group of countries (or other customs territories). Both countries loosen their trade restrictions to help businesses, so that they can prosper better between the different countries. This definitely helps lower taxes and it helps them converse about their trade status. Usually, this revolves around subsided domestic industries. Mainly the industries fall under automotive, oil, or food industries.[10]

A trade agreement signed between more than two sides (typically neighboring or in the same region) is classified as multilateral. These face the most obstacles- when negotiating substance, and for implementation. The more countries that are involved, the harder it is to reach mutual satisfaction. Once this type of trade agreement is settled on, it becomes a very powerful agreement. The larger the GDP of the signatories, the greater the impact on other global trade relationships. The largest multilateral trade agreement is the North American Free Trade Agreement[11] between the United States, Canada, and Mexico.[12]

By geographical region

These are between countries in a certain area. The most powerful ones include a few countries that are near each other in a geographical area.[13] These countries often have similar histories, demographics and economic goals.

The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) was established on January 1, 1989, between the United States, Canada, and Mexico. This agreement was designed to reduce tariff barriers in North America.

The Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) was established in 2015 and currently consists of five member states: Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Russia. It is designed to foster economic integration among its member states and promote economic growth in the region. [14]

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) was formed in 1967 between the countries of Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand. It was established to promote political partnership and maintain economic stability throughout the region.[13]

By level of integration
Stages of economic integration around the World (each country colored according to the most integrated agreement that it participates in):
  Economic and monetary union (ECCU/XCD, Eurozone/EUR, Switzerland–Liechtenstein/CHF)
  Economic union (CSME, EAEU, EU, GCC, Mercosur, SICA)
  Common market (EEA–Switzerland)
  Customs and monetary union (CEMAC/XAF, UEMOA/XOF)
  Customs union (CAN, EAC, EUCU, SACU)
  Multilateral free-trade area (AANZFTA, ASEAN, CEFTA, CISFTA, COMESA, CPTPP, EFTA, GAFTA, PAFTA, RCEP, SADCFTA, SAFTA, USMCA)

There are a variety of trade agreements; with some being quite complex (European Union), while others are less intensive (North American Free Trade Agreement).[15] The resulting level of economic integration depends on the specific type of trade pacts and policies adopted by the trade bloc:

  1. Separate
  2. Composite

Special agreements

By the World Trade Organization

Typically the benefits and obligations of the trade agreements apply only to their signatories.

In the framework of the World Trade Organization, different agreement types are concluded (mostly during new member accessions), whose terms apply to all WTO members on the so-called most-favored basis (MFN), which means that beneficial terms agreed bilaterally with one trading partner will apply also to the rest of the WTO members.

All agreements concluded outside of the WTO framework (and granting additional benefits beyond the WTO MFN level, but applicable only between the signatories and not to the rest of the WTO members) are called preferential by the WTO. According to WTO rules, these agreements are subject to certain requirements such as notification to the WTO and general reciprocity (the preferences should apply equally to each of the signatories of the agreement) where unilateral preferences (some of the signatories gain preferential access to the market of the other signatories, without lowering their own tariffs) are allowed only under exceptional circumstances and as temporary measure.[16]

The trade agreements called preferential by the WTO are also known as regional (RTA), despite not necessarily concluded by countries within a certain region. There are currently 205 agreements in force as of July 2007. Over 300 have been reported to the WTO.[17] The number of FTA has increased significantly over the last decade. Between 1948 and 1994, the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT), the predecessor to the WTO, received 124 notifications. Since 1995 over 300 trade agreements have been enacted.[18]

The WTO is further classifying these agreements in the following types:

  • Goods covering:
    • basic preferential trade agreement (a.k.a. partial scope agreement)
    • free trade agreement
    • customs union
  • Services covering:
    • Economic Integration Agreement–any agreement, including a basic PTA, that covers also services

See also

Lists:

References
  1. Grossman, Gene M. (March 2016). "The Purpose of Trade Agreements". NBER Working Paper No. 22070. doi:10.3386/w22070.
  2. O’Brien, Paula; Gleeson, Deborah; Room, Robin; Wilkinson, Claire (1 May 2018). "Commentary on 'Communicating Messages About Drinking': Using the 'Big Legal Guns' to Block Alcohol Health Warning Labels". Alcohol and Alcoholism. 53 (3): 333–336. doi:10.1093/alcalc/agx124.
  3. Sutton, Maira (19 December 2014). "It Doesn't Matter Who Does the Lobbying: Trade Agreements Aren't the Place for Internet Regulations". Electronic Frontier Foundation.
  4. Surowiecki, James (7 May 2007). "Exporting I.P." The New Yorker. Retrieved 10 February 2023.
  5. Vetulani-Cęgiel, Agnieszka (4 October 2015). "EU Copyright Law, Lobbying and Transparency of Policy-Making: The cases of sound recordings term extension and orphan works provisions". JIPITEC.
  6. Boutilier, Alex (1 October 2018). "Canada capitulates on copyright in new USMCA deal, experts say". thestar.com.
  7. Geist, Michael (14 March 2016). "The Trouble With the TPP, Day 50: The Case Against Ratifying the Trans Pacific Partnership - Michael Geist". (Canada Research Chair in copyright law).
  8. Lamy, Pascal (2007-09-10). "Proliferation of regional trade agreements 'breeding concern'". Geneva: World Trade Organization. Retrieved 2008-07-20.
  9. "See Why Afghan Rugs Cost You More Today Than a Year Ago". The Balance. Retrieved 2018-03-26.
  10. "Top 12 U.S. Bilateral Trade Agreements". The Balance. Retrieved 2018-03-26.
  11. "Fast Facts About the World's Largest Trade Agreement". The Balance. Retrieved 2018-03-26.
  12. "5 Pros and 4 Cons to the World's Largest Trade Agreements". The Balance. Retrieved 2018-03-26.
  13. "What Trade Agreements Do We Have With Our Neighbors?". The Balance. Retrieved 2018-04-16.
  14. Eurasian Economic Union. (2020). Retrieved from https://www.eaeunion.org/
  15. Gonzalez, Eddie (1998). "Why do countries seek Regional Trade Agreements". The Regionalization of the World Economy. p. 64. ISBN 0-226-25995-1. Retrieved 2008-07-21.
  16. The EU got a WTO waiver to grant favourable access to its market for the ACP states, without requiring that in return they open their markets to competition from the EU. The WTO waiver already expired and currently the EU and the ACP states are negotiating WTO compliant reciprocial agreements).
  17. "Regional trade agreements". WTO. July 2007. Retrieved 2008-07-20.
  18. "Facts and figures". World Trade Organization. Retrieved 2009-08-16.
  • ITC's Market Access Map, an online database of customs tariffs and market requirements.
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