Title : Hark! Are PTAs Swallowing up the WTO and Global Economic Welfare?: A Legal and Political Economy Critique of PTAs


Authors : Md. Rizwanul Islam


Journal Article Title: Singapore Year Book of International Law Volume Number: 12 Publication Year : 2008
Index: other (HeinOnline) Ranking: A ISSN (Print): 1793-0448 Publisher Name: : Faculty of Law, National University of Singapore
Pages : 133-149
Funding Information:
Funding Source : Other
Other Information:
Direct Sustainable Development Goals :
SDG8 Decent Work & Economic Growth
SDG17 Partnership for the Goals
Indirect Sustainable Development Goals :
SDG10 Reduced Inequality
SDG16 Peace, Justice & Strong Institutions
Sustainable Development Sub Goals :
Increase trade support for least developed countries
Promote a universal, rules-based, open, non-discriminatory and equitable multilateral trading system
Enhance policy coherence for sustainable development
Implement the principle of special and differential treatment for developing countries
Impact statement: This article critiques preferential trade agreements not only through economics but also through law and political economy. Its value lies in showing that the debate over PTAs and the WTO cannot be understood through economic welfare analysis alone, because PTAs also raise institutional, legal, and governance concerns that affect the multilateral trading system more broadly. Collaboration: None Keywords: PTAs, WTO, global economic welfare, trade law, political economy, regional trade agreements, multilateralism