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Integration

Regional Integration Initiatives in the Americas
In the world of trade relations, regionalism is often defined as “actions by governments to liberalise or facilitate trade on a regional basis, sometimes through free trade areas or customs unions.” This broad definition encompasses a number of trade liberalisation initiatives with different market integration scopes and objectives, such as Preferential Trade Areas (PTAs), Free Trade Areas (FTAs), Custom Unions, Common Markets and Economic Unions. Some examples of regional integration initiatives in the Americas are:

 


 

    Selected Caribbean Regional Bodies

 


 

 Readings on Integration Agreements and the World Trading System

 

by Jaime de Melo
Université de Genève

 Regional Integration Agreements (RIAs):  Introduction and Overview
 1. De Melo, “Regionalism and Developing Countries: A Primer
 2. World Bank, “
Regional Integration Agreements

 3. De Melo and Panagariya “
Introduction

 5. Schiff and Winters “
Regional Integration Agreements: An Overview

 6.
Irwin, “Multilateral and Bilateral Trade Policies in the World Trading System: An Historical Perspective"

The Economics of Preferential Trading Arrangements: I
1. World Bank  “Economic Benefits and Costs
2. Schiff and Winters, “
How Trade Blocs Increase Competition and Welfare

3. De Melo, Panagariya and Rodrik, “
The New Regionalism: A Country Perspective

4. C. Carrère, “Revisiting the Effects of RTAs on Trade with Proper Specification of the Gravity Equation”

The Economics of Preferential Trading Arrangements: II
1. Schiff and Winters, “Stimulating Investment
2. Schiff and Winters, “
Growth and Location

3. Fink and Mattoo, “
Regional Agreements and Trade in Services: Policy Issues

The Political Economy of Regionalism and Implementation Issues
1. World Bank  “Politics and Policymaking
2. Schiff and Winters, “
Regional Integration as Politics

3. Olarreaga,  Soloaga and Winters, “
What’s Behind Mercosur’s Common External Tariff?
 

4. Estevadeordal and  Suominen, “Rules of Origin: A World Map and Trade Effects

 Regionalism and the Multilateral Trading System
1. Finger “
GATT’s Influence on Regional Arrangements

2. World Bank  “
Trade Blocs and the World Trading System

3. Bhagwati “
Regionalism and Multilateralism: An Overview

4. Krugman “
Regionalism vs. Multilateralism: Analytical Notes

5. Schiff and Winters, “T
rade Blocs and the Rest of the World

6. Winters, “
Regionalism vs. Multilateralism

Summing It All Up
1. World Bank, “
Conclusion: Tell Me the Truth About Trade Blocs

2. World Bank, “
Policy Choices