Author Description

Product Description The proliferation of regional trade agreements (RTAs) over the past two decades has highlighted the need to look closely at the potential conflicts between regional and WTO rules or disciplines. A major obstacle to advancing understanding of RTAs is the absence of detailed information about their contents. This has limited the debate between those who view RTAs as discriminatory instruments hostage to protectionist interests and those who see them as conducive to multilateral trade opening. This book provides detailed analysis of RTA rules in six key areas - market access, technical barriers to trade, contingent protection, investment, services and competition policy - across dozens of the main RTAs in the world. The analysis helps to provide new insights into the interplay between regional and multilateral trade rules, advances understanding of the economic effects of RTAs and contributes to the discussion on how to deal with the burgeoning number of RTAs. Review 'The volume makes a useful contribution to existing literature and will be of interest not only to a policy audience, but also to researchers.' The Journal of World Trade Review Book Description This book analyses the rules governing regional trade agreements in six key areas - market access, technical barriers to trade, contingent protection, investment, services and competition policy. The analysis provides new insights into the interplay between regional and multilateral trade rules. About the Author Antoni Estevadeordal is Manager at the Integration and Trade Sector of the Inter-American Development Bank in Washington.