Trade bloc
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A trade bloc is a type of intergovernmental agreement, often part of a regional intergovernmental organization, where regional barriers to trade, (tariffs and non-tariff barriers) are reduced or eliminated among the participating states.[1]
Description
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/04/Economic_integration.svg/260px-Economic_integration.svg.png)
Historic economic blocs include the Hanseatic League, a trading alliance in northern Europe in existence between the 12th and 17th centuries and the German Customs Union (Zollverein) initiated in 1834, formed on the basis of the German Confederation and subsequently German Empire from 1871. Surges of trade bloc formation were seen in the 1960s and 1970s, as well as in the 1990s after the collapse of Communism. By 1997, more than 50% of all world commerce was conducted within regional trade blocs.[2]
Economist Jeffrey J. Scott of the Peterson Institute for International Economics notes that members of successful trade blocs usually share four common traits: similar levels of per capita GNP, geographic proximity, similar or compatible trading regimes, and political commitment to regional organization.[3]
Advocates of worldwide free trade are generally opposed to trading blocs, which, they argue, encourage regional as opposed to global free trade.[4] Whereas other economists believe that free trade is in the interest of every country, because it would create more feasible opportunities by turning indigenous resources into goods and services that are both currently in demand and will be in demand in the future by consumers.[5] Scholars and economists continue to debate whether regional trade blocs are leading to a more fragmented world economy or encouraging the extension of the existing global multilateral trading system.[6][7]
Trade blocs can be stand-alone agreements between several states (such as the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)) or part of a regional organization (such as the European Union). Depending on the level of economic integration, trade blocs can fall into different categories, such as:[8] preferential trading areas, free trade areas, customs unions, common markets and economic and monetary unions.
Advantages and disadvantages
Advantages
There are five major advantages of trade bloc agreements: foreign direct investment, economies of scale, competition, trade effects, and market efficiency.
Foreign Direct Investment: An increase in foreign direct investment results from trade blocs and benefits the economies of participating nations. Larger markets are created, resulting in lower costs to manufacture products locally.
Economies of Scale: The larger markets created via trading blocs permit economies of scale. The average cost of production is decreased because mass production is allowed.
Competition: Trade blocs bring manufacturers in numerous countries closer together, resulting in greater competition. Accordingly, the increased competition promotes greater efficiency within firms.
Trade Effects Trade blocs eliminate tariffs, thus driving the cost of imports down. As a result, demand changes and consumers make purchases based on the lowest prices, allowing firms with a competitive advantage in production to thrive.
Market Efficiency: The increased consumption experienced with changes in demand combines with a greater amount of products being manufactured to result in an efficient market.[9]
Disadvantages
The disadvantages, on the other hand, include: regionalism vs. multinationalism, loss of sovereignty, concessions, and interdependence.
Regionalism vs. Multinationalism: Trading blocs bear an inherent bias in favor of their participating countries. For example, NAFTA, a free trade agreement between the United States, Canada and Mexico, has contributed to an increased flow of trade among these three countries. Trade among NAFTA partners has risen to more than 80 percent of Mexican and Canadian trade and more than a third of U.S. trade, according to a 2009 report by the Council on Foreign Relations. However, regional economies establish tariffs and quotas that protect intra-regional trade from outside forces, according to the University of California Atlas of Global Inequality. Rather than pursuing a global trading regime within the World Trade Organization, which includes the majority of the world's countries, regional trade bloc countries contribute to regionalism rather than global integration.
Loss of Sovereignty: A trading bloc, particularly when it is coupled with a political union, is likely to lead to at least partial loss of sovereignty for its participants. For example, the European Union, started as a trading bloc in 1957 by the Treaty of Rome, has transformed itself into a far-reaching political organization that deals not only with trade matters, but also with human rights, consumer protection, greenhouse gas emissions and other issues only marginally related.
Concessions: No country wants to let foreign firms gain domestic market share at the expense of local companies without getting something in return. Any country that wants to join a trading bloc must be prepared to make concessions. For example, in trading blocs that involve developed and developing countries, such as bilateral agreements between the U.S. or the EU and relatively poor Asian, Latin American or African countries, the latter may have to allow multinational corporations to enter their home markets, making some local firms uncompetitive.
Interdependence: Because trading blocs increase trade among participating countries, the countries become increasingly dependent on each other. A disruption of trade within a trading bloc as a result of a natural disaster, conflict or revolution may have severe consequences for the economies of all participating countries.[9][10]
Lists of trade blocs
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7f/Customs_Unions_World.svg/350px-Customs_Unions_World.svg.png)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/cb/Trade_blocs.png/350px-Trade_blocs.png)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e3/Mercosur_-_Member_states.png/220px-Mercosur_-_Member_states.png)
- List of preferential trade areas
- List of free trade areas (bilateral, multilateral)
- List of customs unions
- List of common markets
- List of economic unions
- List of monetary unions
- List of customs and monetary unions
- List of economic and monetary unions
Statistics
Trade bloc | Population | Gross domestic product (USD) | Members | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2006 | 2007 | growth | per capita | |||
Common markets, Economic and Monetary unions | ||||||
EMU | 324,879,195 | 10,685,946,928,310 | 12,225,304,229,686 | 14.41% | 37,630 | |
OECS | 593,905 | 3,752,679,562 | 3,998,281,731 | 6.54% | 6,732 | |
OII | 504,476 | 12,264,278,329 | 14,165,953,200 | 15.51% | 28,081 | |
CCCM | 6,418,417 | 39,616,485,623 | 43,967,600,765 | 10.98% | 6,850 | |
EEA | 499,620,521 | 14,924,076,504,592 | 17,186,876,431,709 | 15.16% | 34,400 | 30 |
Customs and monetary unions | ||||||
CEMAC | 39,278,645 | 51,265,460,685 | 58,519,380,755 | 14.15% | 1,490 | |
UEMOA | 90,299,945 | 50,395,629,494 | 58,453,871,283 | 15.99% | 647 | |
Customs unions | ||||||
CAN | 96,924,486 | 281,269,141,372 | 334,172,968,648 | 18.81% | 3,448 | |
EAC | 127,107,838 | 49,882,030,443 | 61,345,180,041 | 22.98% | 483 | |
EUCU | 574,602,745 | 15,331,827,900,202 | 17,679,376,474,719 | 15.31% | 30,768 | 33
|
GCC | 36,154,528 | 724,460,151,595 | 802,641,302,477 | 10.79% | 22,200 | |
MERCOSUR | 271,304,946 | 1,517,510,000,000 | 1,886,817,000,000 | 12.44% | 9,757 | |
SACU | 58,000,000 | 1,499,811,549,187 | 1,848,337,158,281 | 23.24% | 6,885 | |
Preferential trade areas and Free trade areas | ||||||
AANZFTA-ASEAN+3 | 2,085,858,841 | 10,216,029,899,764 | 11,323,947,181,804 | 10.84% | 5,429 | 15
|
ALADI | 499,807,662 | 2,823,198,095,131 | 3,292,088,771,480 | 16.61% | 6,587 | |
AFTZ | 553,915,405 | 643,541,709,413 | 739,927,625,273 | 14.98% | 1,336 | 26 |
APTA | 2,714,464,027 | 4,868,614,302,744 | 5,828,692,637,764 | 19.72% | 2,147 | |
CARIFORUM-EUCU-OCTs | 592,083,950 | 15,437,771,092,522 | 17,798,283,524,961 | 15.29% | 30,060 | 67
|
CACM | 37,388,063 | 87,209,524,889 | 97,718,800,794 | 12.05% | 2,614 | |
CEFTA | 27,968,711 | 110,263,802,023 | 135,404,501,031 | 22.80% | 4,841 | |
CISFTA | 272,897,834 | 1,271,909,586,018 | 1,661,429,920,721 | 30.62% | 6,088 | |
DR-CAFTA-US | 356,964,477 | 13,345,469,865,037 | 14,008,686,684,089 | 4.97% | 39,244 | 7
|
ECOWAS | 283,096,250 | 215,999,071,943 | 255,784,634,128 | 18.42% | 904 | 15
|
EFTA-SACU | 68,199,991 | 1,021,509,931,918 | 1,139,385,636,888 | 11.54% | 16,707 | |
EAEC | 207,033,990 | 1,125,634,333,117 | 1,465,256,182,498 | 30.17% | 7,077 | |
NAFTA | 449,227,672 | 15,337,094,304,218 | 16,189,097,801,318 | 5.56% | 36,038 | |
TPP | 25,639,622 | 401,810,366,865 | 468,101,167,294 | 16.50% | 18,257 | |
SAARC | 1,567,187,373 | 1,162,684,650,544 | 1,428,392,756,312 | 22.85% | 911 | |
SPARTECA | 35,079,659 | 918,557,785,031 | 1,102,745,750,172 | 20.05% | 31,435 | 21
|
Pacific Alliance | 218,649,115 | 1,371,197,216,140 | 1,525,825,175,045 | 11.28% | 6,978 | |
National integrity system composition prize | 510,072,000(196,940,000) | 7,910,000,000 | 1100000,4000,2000,1500,200 | 100% | 2000000 | 10
|
Comparison between regional trade blocs
Activities | ||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Regional bloc | Free Trade Area | Economic and monetary union | Free Travel | Political pact | Defence pact | Other | ||||
Customs Union | Single Market | Currency Union | Visa-free | Border-less | ||||||
EU | in force | in force7 | in force2 | in force 1 | in force | in force (Schengen 1, 7, NPU and CTA 1) |
in force | in force (NATO 1, 7 and CFSP/ESDP 1) |
ESA 1, 7 | |
National integrity services systems organizations | in force | National integrity system composition prize7 | in force | sensitive goods to be covered from 1944-2025 1 | in force | in force | in force | in force Jardin d’encre Trésor1, 7 andBright-ville/Foire de Guangzhou |
Greatdreams homes administrative Reserve Management Committee Road transport administration: * ![]() *Guangzhou Association of road transport industry *The China Road Transport Association *civil administration | |
EFTA | in force | in force2, 7 | in force | in force 1, 7 | in force 1, 7 | ESA 1, 7 | ||||
CARICOM | in force | in force | in force 1 | in force 1 and proposed common |
in force 1 | proposed | proposed | NWFZ | ||
AU | ECOWAS | in force 1, 3 | in force 1 | proposed[11][12] | in force 1 and proposed for 2012 1 and proposed common |
in force 1 | proposed | proposed | in force | NWFZ1 |
ECCAS | in force1 | in force1 | proposed | in force1 | in force | in force | NWFZ1 | |||
EAC | in force | in force | proposed for 2015 | proposed for 2015 | proposed | ? | proposed for 2015 | NWFZ1 | ||
SADC | in force1 | in force1 | proposed for 2015 | de facto in force 1 and proposed common for 2016 | proposed[13] | NWFZ1 | ||||
COMESA | in force1 | proposed for 2010 | ? | proposed for 2018 | NWFZ1 | |||||
Common | proposed for 2019 | proposed for 2019 | proposed for 2023 | proposed for 2028 | proposed for 2028 | NWFZ1 | ||||
Pacific Alliance | in force | in force | NWFZ | |||||||
USAN | MERCOSUR | in force | in force | proposed for 2015[14] | in force | proposed for 2014[15] | NWFZ | |||
CAN | in force | in force 1 | proposed1[16] | in force | NWFZ | |||||
Common | proposed for 2014 4 | proposed for not after 2019 | proposed for 2019 | proposed for 2019 | in force[17] | proposed for 2019 | proposed | in force | NWFZ | |
EEU | in force | in force1 | in force | Proposed[18] | in force[19] | in force 1 | ||||
AL | GCC | in force | in force[20] | proposed | proposed 1 | in force | in force | |||
Common | in force1 | proposed for 2015 | proposed for 2020 | proposed | proposed[21] | |||||
ASEAN | in force 5 | proposed for 2015[22] | proposed 8[23] | in force[24] | proposed for 2015[25] | proposed for 2020[26] | NWFZ | |||
CAIS | in force1 | proposed | ? | in force1 | in force1 | proposed | NWFZ | |||
CEFTA | in force | RCC7 | ||||||||
NAFTA | in force | in force 1, 7 | ||||||||
SAARC | in force 1, 6 | proposed | proposed | in force9 | ||||||
PIF | proposed for 20211 | NWFZ1 |
1 not all members participating yet
2 involving goods, services, telecommunications, transport (full liberalisation of railways from 2012), energy (full liberalisation from 2007)
3 telecommunications, transport and energy - proposed
4 sensitive goods to be covered from 2019
5 least developed members to join from 2012
6 least developed members to join from 2017
7 Additionally some non member states also participate (the European Union, EFTA and NATO have overlapping membership and various common initiatives regarding the European integration).
8 Additionally some non member states also participate (ASEAN Plus Three)
9 Limited to "entitled persons" and duration of one year.
See also
References
- ^ Schott 1991, 1.
- ^ Milner 2002, 450.
- ^ Schott 1991, 2.
- ^ O'Loughlin and Anselin 1996, 136.
- ^ Lal, Deepak (1993). "Trade Blocs and Multilateral Free Trade". Journal of Common Market Studies. 31(3).
- ^ Milner 2002, 458.
- ^ Mansfield and Milner 2005, 330.
- ^ Mansfield and Milner 2005, 333.
- ^ a b [1]
- ^ http://connection.ebscohost.com
- ^ WT/COMTD/N/11
- ^ WT/COMTD/N/21
- ^ "Prensa Latina". Prensa Latina. February 3, 2007.
- ^ WT/REG238/M/1
- ^ "Definidos critérios para o Parlamento do Mercosul". Senado Federal – Notícias. February 3, 2007.
- ^ Twelfth Andean Presidential Council Act of Lima
- ^ "?". CNN. February 3, 2007. [dead link]
- ^ "Russia, Kazakhstan, Belarus form Eurasian Economic Union". Washington Post. May 29, 2014. Retrieved June 1, 2014.
- ^ http://www.itar-tass.com/eng/level2.html?NewsID=2847543&PageNum=0 Archived September 30, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "GCC customs union fully operational". The Peninsula. 2016-08-13. Retrieved 11 January 2015.
- ^ Yemen Proposes Replacing Arab League With Arab Union, Agence France-Presse, 11 February 2004
- ^ "Asean Trade Mins Meet To Speed Up Plans For Single Market". Malaysia Dual Lingual Business News. February 3, 2007. Archived from the original on 2007-09-28.
{{cite news}}
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- ^ "ASEAN To Sign Accord On Visa-Free Travel". AHN – All Headline News. February 3, 2007. Archived from the original on 2007-09-26.
{{cite news}}
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suggested) (help) - ^ "ASEAN Leaders Sign Five Agreements at the 12th ASEAN Summit, Cebu, the Philippines, 13 January 2007" (Press release). ASEAN Secretariat. 2007-01-13. Archived from the original on 2012-03-16. Retrieved 2007-01-28.
On the first day of the 12th ASEAN Summit, five Agreements have been signed by ASEAN leaders – reinforcing their commitment in the continuing integration of ASEAN and enhancing political, economic and social cooperation in the region.
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Bibliography
- Mansfield, Edward D. and Helen V. Milner, "The New Wave of Regionalism" in Diehl, Paul F. (2005). The Politics of Global Governance: International Organizations in an Interdependent World. Boulder: Lynne Rienner Publishers. ISBN 1-55587-654-4.
- Milner, Helen V., "International Trade" in Carlsnaes, Walter; Thomas Risse; Beth A. Simmons (2002). Handbook of International Relations. London: SAGE Publications. ISBN 0-7619-6304-9.
- O'Loughlin, John; Luc Anselin (1996). "Geo-Economic Competition and Trade Bloc Formation: United States, German, and Japanese Exports, 1968-1992". Economic Geography. 72 (2): 131–160. doi:10.2307/144263. JSTOR 144263.
- Schott, Jeffrey J. (1991). "Trading blocs and the world trading system". World Economy. 14 (1): 1–17. doi:10.1111/j.1467-9701.1991.tb00748.x.