Trade and Globalization: An Introduction to Regional Trade Agreements

by David A. Lynch

Overview

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Regional trade agreements (RTAs) are not new, but their importance in global economics and politics has grown exponentially in the past two decades. At the same time, RTAs have become increasingly controversial as their number, scope, and cross-cutting memberships become so complex that many fear they will undermine the World Trade Organization's multilateral trading system. Ranging from the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation forum to the European Union to the North American Free Trade Agreement, RTAs have equally wide-ranging purposes, from improving market access to increasing clout in international negotiations.

Tackling this complexity and confusion head on, this book provides a much-needed guide to RTAs. Setting current regional agreements in their economic, political, and historical context, David A. Lynch describes and compares virtually every significant RTA, region by region. He clearly explains their intricate inner workings, their webs of collaboration and conflict, and their primary goals and effectiveness.

Lynch's deeply knowledgeable study bridges the ideological divides in scholarly and public debate, including economists' emphases on markets and efficiency versus antiglobalization activists' concerns over inequality and social ills. By building a middle ground between micro and macro analysis and clarifying technical terminology, this concise and accessible book will be an invaluable reference for all nonspecialists.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780742566897
Publisher:	Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.
Publication date:	08/16/2010
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	346
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 8.90(h) x 1.10(d)
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

David A. Lynch is chair and professor, Department of Social Science, Saint Mary's University of Minnesota.

Table of Contents

List of Boxes, Figures, and Tables viii

Preface xi

Acknowledgments xv

1 Introduction to Regional Trade Agreements: Making Sense of the RTA Spaghetti Bowl 1

The Importance of RTAs 1

Why RTAs? 2

Controversies about RTAs 9

Typology of RTAs and Other Economic Agreements 18

Comparing RTAs/Variation in RTAs 25

Organization of This Book 45

2 Africa 47

African Monetary Unions 49

Context of African RTAs: African International Political Economy (IPE) 50

RTAs in Africa 55

3 The Americas 85

South American RTAs 87

Context of South American RTAs: South American IPE-Statism, Economic Liberalism, and Its Critics 89

Caribbean RTAs 91

Context of Caribbean RTAs: Caribbean IPE-Diversity, Vulnerability, and Security 91

Context of Central American RTAs: Central American IPE-History and Security 97

RTAs in the Americas 98

4 Asia 129

Context of East Asian RTAs: East Asian IPE (Of Tigers, Cubs, Dragons, and Rising Suns) 130

Context of Southeast Asian RTAs: Southeast Asian IPE 134

Context of South Asian RTAs: South Asian IPE-Can Geopolitics Be Overcome? 136

RTAs in Asia 137

5 Europe 153

Context of European RTAs: Why Europaean Integration? 154

RTAs in Europe 157

6 Russia and the Former Soviet Republics 183

Context of RTAs in the Former Soviet Union Region: IPE of Incomplete and Varied Transitions 184

RTAs in the Former Soviet Union 192

7 The Middle East and North Africa 203

Explaining Low Levels of MENA Integration in the Post-World War II Period 205

Context of MENA RTAs: IPE of the MENA 208

RTAs in the Middle East and North Africa 210

8 The Pacific Islands 219

Context of Pacific Islands RTAs: IPE of the Pacific Islands Region 220

RTAs in the Pacific Islands Region 221

9 Conclusion 231

RTAs: Facade or Real Structures? 231

RTAs: Dynamic, Not Static 232

Regional Patterns of RTAs 232

RTAs, Globalization, and International Political Economy Theories 235

Concluding Thoughts: RTAs as Microcosms of Globalization 240

Appendix A The World Trade Organization 241

The Uruguay Round 242

The Doha Development Agenda 242

WTO Membership 242

Appendix B European Union Preferential Access Agreements 245

Appendix C US Free Trade Agreements and Pending Free Trade Agreements 247

List of Abbreviations 251

Glossary 258

Notes 263

Bibliography 296

Index 312

About the Author 329

What People are Saying About This

Daniel Drache

The sheer number of regional trade agreements worldwide is redefining the old order of global trade governance. This excellent and comprehensive book provides both experts and students with a new understanding of their complexity, dynamics, costs, and opportunities. Perhaps more important, Lynch dispels many of the myths and misunderstandings about the next phase of global multilateralism and new state practices. Surely an impressive achievement by any standard.

Patrice Franko

Lynch deftly untangles the spaghetti bowl of RTAs, providing a detailed understanding of the dynamics of trade agreements. This rich compendium on trade integration underscores the importance of regionalism in our globalized economy.

Editorial Reviews

The increase in the number as well as size of regional trade agreements (RTAs) in recent years has resulted in the proliferation of literature on the subject. However, much of that outpouring has dealt with a single RTA or some subset of the aggregate. Thus this volume, which offers a broad perspective, is a useful resource. Lynch identifies the large number of RTAs and provides information on their membership and other descriptive characteristics. In addition, he notes the influence of each with respect to regional or world trade. An introductory chapter discusses the overall importance of RTAs, their purposes, and criticisms brought against them. The introduction also includes an overview of trade agreement types as well as variations among RTAs. This is followed by seven chapters, each devoted to RTAs in a different region, and a concluding chapter. Several appendixes elaborate on selected trade agreements, e.g., the World Trade Organization. The book contains a list of abbreviations, glossary, and source notes. A supplementary Web site expands and updates information and offers links to RTAs and globalization resources. The text is understandable, quite free of jargon, and enhanced by boxes, figures, and tables. A useful introduction or reference. Summing Up: Recommended. All collections and readership levels.

Choice Reviews

Lynch deftly untangles the spaghetti bowl of RTAs, providing a detailed understanding of the dynamics of trade agreements. This rich compendium on trade integration underscores the importance of regionalism in our globalized economy.

Patrice Franko

The sheer number of regional trade agreements worldwide is redefining the old order of global trade governance. This excellent and comprehensive book provides both experts and students with a new understanding of their complexity, dynamics, costs, and opportunities. Perhaps more important, Lynch dispels many of the myths and misunderstandings about the next phase of global multilateralism and new state practices. Surely an impressive achievement by any standard.

Daniel Drache

The increase in the number as well as size of regional trade agreements (RTAs) in recent years has resulted in the proliferation of literature on the subject. However, much of that outpouring has dealt with a single RTA or some subset of the aggregate. Thus this volume, which offers a broad perspective, is a useful resource. Lynch identifies the large number of RTAs and provides information on their membership and other descriptive characteristics. In addition, he notes the influence of each with respect to regional or world trade. An introductory chapter discusses the overall importance of RTAs, their purposes, and criticisms brought against them. The introduction also includes an overview of trade agreement types as well as variations among RTAs. This is followed by seven chapters, each devoted to RTAs in a different region, and a concluding chapter. Several appendixes elaborate on selected trade agreements, e.g., the World Trade Organization. The book contains a list of abbreviations, glossary, and source notes. A supplementary Web site expands and updates information and offers links to RTAs and globalization resources. The text is understandable, quite free of jargon, and enhanced by boxes, figures, and tables. A useful introduction or reference. Summing Up: Recommended. All collections and readership levels.

Choice

The increase in the number as well as size of regional trade agreements (RTAs) in recent years has resulted in the proliferation of literature on the subject. However, much of that outpouring has dealt with a single RTA or some subset of the aggregate. Thus this volume, which offers a broad perspective, is a useful resource. Lynch identifies the large number of RTAs and provides information on their membership and other descriptive characteristics. In addition, he notes the influence of each with respect to regional or world trade. An introductory chapter discusses the overall importance of RTAs, their purposes, and criticisms brought against them. The introduction also includes an overview of trade agreement types as well as variations among RTAs. This is followed by seven chapters, each devoted to RTAs in a different region, and a concluding chapter. Several appendixes elaborate on selected trade agreements, e.g., the World Trade Organization. The book contains a list of abbreviations, glossary, and source notes. A supplementary Web site expands and updates information and offers links to RTAs and globalization resources. The text is understandable, quite free of jargon, and enhanced by boxes, figures, and tables. A useful introduction or reference. Summing Up: Recommended. All collections and readership levels.

CHOICE