This chapter examines the thesis that regulatory policies treated in regional trade agreements have an inherently WTO multilateral character, as they are designed and applied on a most-favoured nation (MFN) basis. It surveys general transparency and dispute settlement provisions and selected WTO...

This paper is written in light of the ongoing negotiations for the 'Tripartite Free-trade Area' now in progress between the member states of three existing regional groupings in Eastern and Southern Africa: the East African Community (EAC), the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa...