Regionalism

The rapid spread of regionalism is surely one of the most important recent developments in the global trade system.  Nearly every developing country is in, or is discussing, a regional integration arrangement.  Many are also seeking advice from the World Bank either on whether to join one or on how one might best be organized.  Given the very "second best" nature of preferential trade arrangements (PTAs), unlike global, multilateral trade liberalization, there are few universally accepted rules of conduct that are applicable to all such arrangements.  Nevertheless, the Bank's research and operational work in this area in many regions of the world has generated a wealth of information and experience that can provide Bank economist and policy makers in the client countries alike, broad guidelines in their dealings with regional integration issues.  The purpose of this site is to make available to the user the basic information and lessons of experience on regional preferential trade arrangements.

• Regional blocs: Policy Research Report and other papers
  
  
• Principal PTAs within World Bank Regions
  
  
• Books
  • Regional Integration and Development, 2003
  • Global Economic Prospects: Trade, Regionalism, and Development, 2005
  • The WTO And Reciprocal Preferential Trading Agreements, 2007
  • Trade Preferences And Differential Treatment Of Developing Countries, 2007
  • Arab Economic Integration: Between Hope and Reality, 2003
  • Western Balkan Integration and the EU: An Agenda for Trade and Growth, 2008
  • From Disintegration to Reintegration: Eastern Europe and the Former Soviet Union in International Trade, 2005
  • Free Trade Area Membership as a Stepping Stone to Development: The Case of ASEAN, 2001
    
    
• North - South Preferential Trade Agreements - EU - Mediterranean Initiative
  
  
• Papers

Last updated on Jun 11, 2009