Week 6 Flashcards
What are the historical blocs of PTA ?
- zollverein = trade coalition from German state 1834 (preceding unification in 1871)
- Franc zone = franc-based paper currency aera in North and South Africa since 1901, strenghten in 1928
- imperial preference = preferential rates for members of Commonwealth, from 1920s-1932
Are the PTA allowed within the GATT ?
Yes they are legally justified by the article XXIV.
What is the enabling cause of the GATT ?
It allows countries to give lower tariffs to countries from the developping world > this is an instrument of integration to GATT.
When did the PTA developped in the european region ?
From 1950
Explain the historical phases of the european regionalism
1950-60 = establishement of ECSC then EEC (first steps in the european integration) 1980s = EU deepening (Single European Act) + NAFTA/CUFTA 1990s = further regional deepening and bilateral agreement worldwide + creation of EMU
When did the number of PTA piked ?
In 1990s, after the end of the Cold war (1991)
How can we classify the different PTA ?
With their members and their depth:
members: regional / intercontinental; bilateral / multiple countries; North-North, South-South, North-South
depth: partial economic cooperation; free trade area; customs union; common market; economic, monetary union
Give an example for each of these agreements:
- partial economic cooperation
- free trade area
- customs union
- monetary union
partial economic cooperation = bilateral agreement CH-US + ECSC (= coal and steel)
free trade area = NATFA (same tariff inside the area)
customs union = MERCOSUR (same tarrif outside the union)
common market = monetary union = common currency
Give the theories that try to explain the increase of PTA
- Demand side = neofunctionalism
- Supply side = intergovernmentalism
Economic explanation - gravity = economic sense
- capital-labor ratio
- economies of scale
International politics explanation - WTO stagnation
- geopolitical interests = mercantilist trading strategy (fear of exclusion)
- standard setting
- domino theory = exporter discrimination
Development explanation - commitment to stability
- macroeconomic credibility
- political risk
- economic reform
Explain the neofunctionalism’s theory about the increase of PTA
Who actually benefits from it and why do they demand more integration ?
According to the neofunctionalists the increase is explained by the bottom up process through spill-over: -> Interest groups -> Partial economic integration -> spillover (to have economies of scales)
The actors are the interests groups, the firms and the citizens. Moreover they are motivated by : economic gains, transaction costs, uncertainty and economies of scale.
Explain the intergovernementalism’s theory about the increase of PTA
According to the intergovernementalists, the PTAs are not driven by societal actors but by the government ! Thus there is a top-down process through bargaining:
Government -> solve the Issue of the day to not loose sovereignty -> EMU (Kohl)
The actors are the governments and the policymakers. Moreover they are motivated by: political gains/leadership and want to solve the issue of the day.
Explain the historical evolution of the WTO
At the beginning, there were 23 countries (decision making by consensus), now there are +163 members. With the time there is a growing heterogeneity (regional associations; sectoral associations; LDCs; transition countries) and a growing complexity (sectors; trade restrictions (NTBs, IPRs); institutional procedures).
Explain the Doha Round
The Doha Round was launched in 2001. Since there have been 9 ministerial conferences however we observe temporary collapse of negotiations. The topics in focus are agriculture; services; environment; trade facilitation.
In this Round there are cleavages : EU vs. U.S. vs. BRICs
(leading developing countries).
Explain the power competition within the international trade system
The power competition will bring us to a more mercantilist world. After an agreement is adopted there is directly a reaction from the countries excluded. However this does not develop within the WTO but outside. The motivations = geopolitical interests, mercantilist trading strategy, discrimination and fear of exclusion.
What are the 2 different standard settings ?
- CETA, TPP, TTIP
2. RCEP (=Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership)