Changing Landscape of RTAs and PTAs: Analysis and Implications
March 26, 2014
Rashid Kaukab, CUTS International
This paper traces the evolution of “discriminatory” international trading arrangements – regional trade agreements (RTAs) that offer to their members better market access to each other’s markets than what is available under the WTO, and preferential trade agreements (PTAs) that offer to developing and least-developed countries non-reciprocal market access to certain markets. The number, coverage and depth of RTAs have seen a tremendous increase in the last quarter of a century. Asia-Pacific, Europe and North America are at the forefront of this activity while most of Africa, Latin America, Middle East and South Asia are lagging behind. Completion of negotiations for the “mega-regionals” – the Transpacific Partnership (TPP) and the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (T-TIP) - may take the RTA game to an even higher level of deeper integration among dynamic economies. But the evidence does not suggest that the world is dividing into blocs. Instead there are several degrees of overlaps among RTA memberships. However, countries at the margin of RTA activity may be in danger of not benefitting from the growth in international trade.
The PTAs too have seen greater activity in the same period. Particularly noteworthy are the facts that most of the PTAs now offer preferences to only sub-groups of developing countries, mostly the LDCs, and that the number of countries offering PTAs has increased as many developing countries too are now providing non-reciprocal market access to LDCs. These developments in the RTAs and PTAs have taken place against the backdrop of Doha Development Agenda stalemate in the WTO and are thus often interpreted as a sign of the WTO failure. While that may not be entirely true, significant RTA and PTA activity does raise serious challenges for countries like Pakistan who are at the margins of this activity. There are no quick fixes. But some suggestions are offered to assist Pakistan take both short and medium term actions. Efforts in the short term should focus on negotiating RTAs with selected countries to build required capacity for such negotiations and improve Pakistan’s visibility on the RTA scene, and aggressively seeking and defending non-reciprocal market access under PTAs, with particular focus on such GSP schemes that offer additional benefits. The medium term action should aim at improving competitiveness by investing in infrastructure, energy and human resources, adopting coherent and supportive macro-economic policy framework, and improving law and order. Only that will ensure Pakistan’s entry into and benefits from RTAs with dynamic economies while substantially reducing the dependence on PTAs.
The PTAs too have seen greater activity in the same period. Particularly noteworthy are the facts that most of the PTAs now offer preferences to only sub-groups of developing countries, mostly the LDCs, and that the number of countries offering PTAs has increased as many developing countries too are now providing non-reciprocal market access to LDCs. These developments in the RTAs and PTAs have taken place against the backdrop of Doha Development Agenda stalemate in the WTO and are thus often interpreted as a sign of the WTO failure. While that may not be entirely true, significant RTA and PTA activity does raise serious challenges for countries like Pakistan who are at the margins of this activity. There are no quick fixes. But some suggestions are offered to assist Pakistan take both short and medium term actions. Efforts in the short term should focus on negotiating RTAs with selected countries to build required capacity for such negotiations and improve Pakistan’s visibility on the RTA scene, and aggressively seeking and defending non-reciprocal market access under PTAs, with particular focus on such GSP schemes that offer additional benefits. The medium term action should aim at improving competitiveness by investing in infrastructure, energy and human resources, adopting coherent and supportive macro-economic policy framework, and improving law and order. Only that will ensure Pakistan’s entry into and benefits from RTAs with dynamic economies while substantially reducing the dependence on PTAs.
About the presenter:
Rashid S. Kaukab is currently Director, CUTS International Geneva, Switzerland. He worked for the government of Pakistan as a field administrator, in the ministry of finance, and as Counsellor on trade and economic issues in Pakistan Mission to the UN/WTO in Geneva before joining the Geneva-based South Centre in March 1998 where he worked as Coordinator of South Centre Work Programme on Trade and Development, as Head, Strategic Policy and Planning, and as Acting Head, Programme and Research Coordination. He has also worked for UNCTAD as a Senior Consultant.
Trade and development is the broad area of his interest and he has contributed a number of articles and papers on issues related to trade and development and global economic governance. He is a member Governing Board, and member faculty of Trade Policy Training Centre in Africa (TRAPCA), Arusha, Tanzania. Rashid S. Kaukab has Masters Degrees in Economics (Karachi University) and Business Administration (Yale University).
Labels: CREB, Pakistan, Pakistan Economy, WTO
posted by S A J Shirazi @ 3/26/2014 02:00:00 PM,
City Campus
104 - C, Gulberg III,
Lahore, Pakistan.
Phones: 92-42-35714936, 38474385
Fax: 92-42-36560905
Main Campus
Intersection Main Boulevard Phase VI
Burki Road
Lahore, Pakistan.
Phones: 36560935, 36560939
