Die Zahl regionaler Handelsabkommen, die Nicht-Mitglieder diskriminieren, ist zuletzt stark gestiegen. Ihre Wohlfahrtswirkungen sind aus Sicht der beteiligten Länder eher leicht positiv, aus globaler Sicht aber weitgehend unklar. Skeptisch stimmen die Erhöhung der Transaktionskosten des...

This paper has reviewed four major developments in the last 30 years: the collapse of the Bretton Woods arrangements; deepening of economic integration worldwide; the frequency and severity of the crises that affected not only developing economies but developed economies as well; and the formation...

The world trading environment has witnessed the proliferation of regional trading arrangements during the last decade. This development was accompanied by the perceived threat that this may bring to the rules-based multilateral trading system. The ASEAN for one have not only reaffirmed their...

The government has implemented substantial trade and investment policy reforms during the last two decades following a three-track approach involving unilateral, regional and multilateral modalities towards freer trade and investment. The reforms resulted to improvements in domestic resource...

East Asia has been caught with regionalism in recent years. There has been a proliferation of bilateral and regional trading arrangement initiatives across the region. Long known for their support to the multilateral framework under the WTO, the leading economies in the region (Japan, South...

One result of the 1997 East Asian financial crisis was greater awareness of the need for closer financial and monetary cooperation. This paper makes an inventory of the institutional developments in this area in East Asia, with emphasis on Southeast Asia. The major issues that must resolve...

Trade with nontraditional and distant markets has always been regarded as worth exploring in an effort to increase market shares amidst the downside effects of globalization and regional trade cooperation. While globalization processes paved the way for increased competition and opening up of...

Going by the statements of the Japan Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Japan's top priority with regards to regional and bilateral economic partnerships (EPA) is to carryout the framework of its EPA with ASEAN by 2012 or earlier. It must be stressed that Japan is economically interested in the whole...