A regional trade agreement (RTA) is a treaty between two or more governments that sets the trade rules for all signatories. Examples of regional trade agreements include the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), the Central American-Dominican Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR), the European Union (EU) and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC). Today, ATRs are evolving in a way that goes beyond existing multilateral rules. The areas that cover them – investment, capital and people, competition and state-owned enterprises, e-commerce, anti-corruption and intellectual property rights – are key policy issues that need to be addressed in today`s more interconnected markets. Mega-regional initiatives are of a completely new scale and allow preferential access to Member States` markets by attempting to conclude 21st century trade agreements with deep and comprehensive market integration. Regional trade agreements are a sub-section of the official World Trade Organization website. It contains an explanation of the negotiating rules for regional trade agreements (ATRs), corresponding statistics and certain articles on regional trade agreements. He also cites examples of regional trade agreements. Free trade agreements are a sub-section of the official website of the U.S. State Organization`s Foreign Trade Information System (SICE). It offers documents on specific trade agreements as well as other related issues.
In addition, information on unions and preferential agreements is available. Online Research Documents General documents relating to regional trade agreements carry the WT/REG document code. As part of the Doha Agenda trade negotiations mandate, they use TN/RL/O (additional values needed). These links open a new window: Allow a moment for the results to appear. Member States of a Customs UnionA customs union is an agreement between two or more neighbouring countries for the removal of trade barriers, the abolition or abolition of tariffs and the abolition of quotas. These unions have been defined in the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) and are the third stage of economic integration. The Committee on Economic Relations and Policy of Economic Union and The Policy of Economic Union and Eastern Europe the preferential trade agreement requires the least commitment to removing trade barriers Trade barriers are legal measures taken primarily to protect a country`s national economy. They generally reduce the amount of goods and services that can be imported. These barriers are put in place in the form of tariffs or taxes and, although Member States do not remove barriers between them. There are also no common trade barriers in preferential trade zones. Policymakers are aware that regional trade agreements must be in line with multilateral rules and that coherence between regional agreements and between regional and multilateral systems is needed.