Home

    About

    Open Access Repository

    SearchBrowse by ThemeBrowse by AuthorBrowse by TypeMost Popular Titles

    Other Resources

    Curators

    Events

    Contributing Think Tanks

    Networks

    Using Content

    FAQs

    Terms of Use

    13,800+ curated items from top Think Tanks.
    JavaScript is disabled for your browser. Some features of this site may not work without it.

    Home

    About

    Open Access Repository

    SearchBrowse by ThemeBrowse by AuthorBrowse by TypeMost Popular Titles

    Other Resources

    Curators

    Events

    Contributing Think Tanks

    Networks

    Using Content

    FAQs

    Terms of Use

    Regional Economic Integration and Multilateralism: The Case of the ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand FTA and the Malaysia-New Zealand FTA

    Vitalis, Vangelis | April 2015
    Abstract
    Regional economic integration is back in vogue following the “stumble” in the Doha Round in July 2008. Preferential trade agreements (PTAs) are driving this trend in Asia and the Pacific as well as in Central and South America, and the sheer volume of PTAs is striking. In the 1990s there were barely five PTAs in force, but now there are more than 200 either under negotiation or in force. In this regard, Asia and the Pacific has developed a rapidly evolving regional economic architecture that spans two major plurilateral agreements, the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (or ASEAN+6 RCEP), as well as the putative Free Trade Agreement of the Asia-Pacific (FTAAP), which received a new lease on life through the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) leaders’ meeting in Beijing late last year. ASEAN, as a group or individually, has been particularly busy in this sphere, deliberately using PTAs as a supplement to its own regional integration process. In Central and Latin America, economic integration has been similarly pursued at variable speeds and in variable geometries. In the meantime, there have been some concerns about the proliferation of PTAs for all the usual reasons. Trade diversion is a reality and with their less-than-comprehensive approach to sensitive issues like agriculture and burdensome rules of origin (ROO), many PTAs are perceived as being at best of marginal business interest and at worst a “stumbling block” to conclusion of the Doha Development Round. This paper argues, however, that more recent PTA outcomes, like the ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand FTA (AANZFTA) and the Malaysia-New Zealand FTA (MNZFTA) present a rather more nuanced picture. There may even be some grounds for modest optimism about how PTAs can be building—not stumbling—blocks for multilateralism. Four distinct criteria are used to assess the AANZFTA and the MNZFTA. These include: 1) the breadth and depth of agricultural market access liberalization; 2) the existence (or non-existence) of WTO-plus commitments; 3) how the risks of complex ROO, etc., are mitigated; and 4) the introduction of bespoke solutions of direct commercial value to business (e.g., facilitated business visitor access). The paper suggests that both the AANZFTA and the MNZFTA provide the basis for engagement at the WTO on how to multilateralize the outcomes secured through the AANZFTA and the MNZFTA. The role and experience of New Zealand in both of these high quality and comprehensive PTAs is something that may be of enduring interest.
    Citation
    Vitalis, Vangelis. 2015. Regional Economic Integration and Multilateralism: The Case of the ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand FTA and the Malaysia-New Zealand FTA. © Asian Development Bank Institute. http://hdl.handle.net/11540/9641.
    Keywords
    Regionalism
    Regional Economy
    Regional Trading Arrangements
    Aid And Development
    Asian Development Bank
    Comprehensive Development Framework
    Development Cooperation
    Development Management
    Development Planning
    Development Strategies
    Development In East Asia
    Development Planning
    Development Research
    Green revolution
    Government Policy
    Regional Organization
    Regional Plans
    Rural planning
    Aid coordination
    Industrial projects
    Infrastructure projects
    Natural resources policy
    Educational development
    Development strategy
    Development models
    Economic development
    Interregionalism
    Regional economics
    Regional planning
    Communication in rural development
    Communication in community development
    Economic development projects
    Development banks
    Economic forecasting
    Environmental auditing
    Cumulative effects assessment
    Human rights and globalization
    Show allCollapse
    Citable URI
    http://hdl.handle.net/11540/9641
    Metadata
    Show full item record
    Thumbnail
    adbi-wp523.pdf (355.0Kb)
    Author
    Vitalis, Vangelis
    Theme
    Regional
    Development

    Related items

    • Thumbnail

      The economic contribution of NZX: New Zealand’s exchange and its role in supporting the New Zealand economy 

      Ballingall, John; Yeabsley, John; Drew, Aaron; Pambudi, Daniel (New Zealand Institute of Economic Research, 2018-02-28)
      NZX has asked NZIER to provide an independent assessment of its direct and indirect value to the New Zealand economy.
      NZX has asked NZIER to provide an independent assessment of its direct and indirect value to the New Zealand economy.
    • Thumbnail

      Peak inequality – New Zealand’s own false truth? 

      Gill, Derek (New Zealand Institute of Economic Research, 2017-06-23)
      Kiwis are increasingly concerned about inequality – paradoxically, inequality has barely changed in 20 years. UMR polling in 2017 suggests Kiwis think that, after housing, inequality and poverty along with immigration are the most important issues facing New Zealand today. The increase in the profile of inequality in opinion surveys follows the decline in concerns since 2010 about the economy and ...
      Kiwis are increasingly concerned about inequality – paradoxically, inequality has barely changed in 20 years. UMR polling in 2017 suggests Kiwis think that, after housing, inequality and poverty along with immigration are the most important issues ...
    • Thumbnail

      Distributional aspects of New Zealand’s tradable and non-tradable sectors 

      Morel, Laëtitia Leroy de; Gämperle., Dion (New Zealand Institute of Economic Research, 2018-07-20)
      In this report, we consider the composition of New Zealand’s tradable and non-tradable sectors in terms of gender, ethnicity, region and business size.
      In this report, we consider the composition of New Zealand’s tradable and non-tradable sectors in terms of gender, ethnicity, region and business size.
     
    Copyright 2016-2021 Asian Development Bank Institute, except as explicitly marked otherwise
    Copyright 2016-2021 Asian Development Bank Institute, except as explicitly marked otherwise