DP2629 EC Regionalism at the Turn of the Millennium: Towards a New Paradigm?

Author(s):	André Sapir
Publication Date:	November 2000
Keyword(s):	Regional Trade Agreements, World Trading System
JEL(s):	F13, F15
Programme Areas:	International Trade and Regional Economics
Link to this Page:	cepr.org/active/publications/discussion_papers/dp.php?dpno=2629

The paper examines the development of regional trade agreements (RTAs) between the European Community (EC) and its partners during the past decade. It finds that EC regionalism has recently entered a new phase: regional trade agreements with countries outside Europe. As a result of parallel initiatives by the United States, the world trading system finds itself in virgin, and potentially dangerous, territory.