World trade volume is in retreat for the first time in more than two decades and the contraction is on a scale not seen since the global recession following the second oil shock of 1979-1980. The United States (US) is at the epicenter of the crisis and is a major source of external demand for...

The "Spaghetti Bowl" (or "Noodle Bowl") phenomenon describes the trade-distorting effects caused by the multitude of Regional Trade Agreements (RTAs) signed in the last three decades. As RTAs allow for a different treatment of imports from different countries, rules defining a product's country...

This article examines how the GATT Article XXIV regional trade agreement (RTA) exception can be strengthened to curb the proliferation of RTAs that maintain questionable levels of trade liberalization. The lack of rigorous application of the ‘substantially all the trade' requirement and the...