Vassilos, Renée A. and Alex F. McCalla

from ARE Update Vol. 12, No. 4, Mar/Apr, 2009

View Article PDF: The Role of Regional Trade Agreements in Trade Liberalization

Abstract

Multilateral trade liberalization is usually the first casualty of a recession. There has been a proliferation of Regional/Bilateral Trade Agreements (RTA's) in recent years. Are these a substitute for multilateral liberalization? This paper explores the recent evolution of RTA's and presents a case study of the U.S.–Malaysia Trade Agreement as it relates to fruit, nut, and vegetable exports. It argues that while there are benefits to the United States, multilateral liberalization still seems to be a better option.

Keywords

Multilateral trade, trade liberalization, trade agreements

Citation

Vassilos, Renée A. and Alex F. McCalla. 2009. "The Role of Regional Trade Agreements in Trade Liberalization." ARE Update 12(4): 1-3. University of California Giannini Foundation of Agricultural Economics.
https://giannini.ucop.edu/filer/file/1453327751/16805/