In this paper we examine how preferential trade liberalization affects the terms of trade, external tariffs and welfare of the integrating countries and the rest of the world. Our analysis is based on a three-country, three-good, general equilibrium model with symmetric customs union (CU) members. The model generalizes previous work by considering more general consumer preferences and productio...

In Section B we discussed a range of reasons why nations may share an interest in cooperating with one another in trade matters. In this section we extend the analysis to examine fundamental issues of treaty design, focusing on two main questions. First, what are the core rules that any good trade agreement must contain so as to reap the envisaged benefits from cooperation? Second, how does the...

As multilateral trade barriers fall, there are increasing concerns that domestic policies will be used to undermine tariff cooperation. We examine how the ability use instruments affects formation of agreements, and resulting implications for pursuit free trade. optimal tariffs relate policy choices, negotiated restrictions on affect both incentives enter different agreements. show unrestricted...

In the recent years, there has been an upsurge in number of FTAs that are mainstreaming gender equality concerns their trade agreements. But is enough, and does it mean countries “mainstream” agreements also “adopt” actions to address these concerns? What policy context? How can help fostering women empowerment? kinds relevant provisions have already included existing agreements, what remains u...

This paper considers the negotiation and enforcement of trade agreements in an environment where countries negotiate repeatedly through time. The idea that countries choose trade policies repeatedly through time has been widely applied in the literature on trade agreements, and has motivated the use of subgame perfect equilibrium as a mechanism for enforcing agreements. We argue that this same ...