The Asia-Pacific region has emerged as a dominant player in trade and will continue to be an influential pole of world trade and economics, with the center of gravity shifting to this region. This book presents analytical insights into the various regional and bilateral trade agreements (RTAs) and their beneficial effects on bilateral trade and development. It provides an incisive analysis and a roundup of all major RTAs and also presents an overview of all major agreements between the countries involved, which might propel their trade flows and influence future economic engagements.The book in a novel way also discusses possible obstacles that are encountered during the implementation of RTAs and circumvention routes, once those taken into account could ensure the successful execution of the agreements. The book dwells on the issue of regionalism and multilateralism with reference to General Agreements on Trade and Tariffs and World Trade Organisation, which have revolutionized the trade dynamics by opening up new areas of trade-rules and formulating specific policy guidelines for the member countries to adhere to during trade negotiations. The book also provides new insights into some of the issues of negotiations such as sensitive lists, trade and investment cooperation, including trade in services, rules of origin, non-tariff barriers, anti-dumping etc. The book also focuses on policy instruments that could convert trade gains to development gains. The existing economic cooperation arrangements in the region as well as those that are at various stages of study and negotiations, empirical insights and policy suggestions are elucidated in detail.
