NSU Research Contributions
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,LexisNexis,Westlaw) | Ranking: A | ISSN (Print): 17930448 | Publisher Name: Faculty of Law, National University of Singapore |
| Pages : 133–149 | |||
| Funding Source : None |
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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 critically examines the growing expansion of Preferential Trade Agreements (PTAs) and questions whether they undermine the multilateral trading system led by the World Trade Organization (WTO). The author analyzes PTAs from both legal and political-economy perspectives, arguing that excessive reliance on regional and bilateral trade agreements may weaken global trade uniformity and reduce overall economic welfare. By evaluating the tensions between regional trade blocs and multilateral trade governance, the article contributes to scholarly debates on globalization, international economic law, and the future of the WTO system. The study is relevant to policymakers, trade negotiators, economists, and researchers working on international trade law and global economic governance. | Collaboration: None | Keywords: PTAs, WTO, global economic welfare, trade law, political economy, regional trade agreements, multilateralism. ? |
