Regional Options Within the Multilateral Trading Systems for Countries & Territories of the Mashreq.

Starting from the observation that intra-regional trade flows in the Mashreq are abnormally low, the paper reviews the existing trade agreements and the alternative options that the countries of the region could embrace in order to deepen their trade relations. This discussion is set against the background of two major factors that are shaping the region's trading opportunities: on the one hand, the Mediterranean Initiative of the European Union -in particular the Euro-Mediterranean free trade agreements- on the other, the rules governing regional trade agreements in the multilateral trading system -in particular Art. XXIV of GATT, the Enabling Clause and Art. V of GATS.