Regional trade agreements
Regional trade agreements (RTAs) have risen in number and reach over the years, including a notable increase in large plurilateral agreements under negotiation. Following the notification of the RTA between Mongolia and Japan in June 2016, all WTO members now have an RTA in force.
Non-discrimination among trading partners is one of the core principles of the WTO; however, RTAs constitute one of the exemptions and are authorized under the WTO, subject to a set of rules. In line with these rules, and also recognizing the need to enhance transparency and increase understanding of RTAs' impact on interests of WTO members, the WTO Secretariat was instructed by WTO members to gather information on RTAs. The organization also provides a forum for discussions on the implications of RTAs for the wider multilateral trading system.
What all RTAs in the WTO have in common is that they are reciprocal preferential trade agreements between two or more partners. Information on RTAs notified to the WTO is available in the RTA Database. The WTO also receives notifications from WTO members regarding preferential trade arrangements (PTAs). In the WTO, PTAs are unilateral trade preferences. Information on PTAs notified to the WTO is available in the PTA Database.
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Introduction
> See also: Regionalism — friends or rivals?
Explanation from “Understanding the WTO”, the introduction to the WTO.
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Facts and figures
As of 25 January 2018, 284 RTAs were in force. These correspond to 455 notifications from WTO members, counting goods, services and accessions separately.
- How many regional trade agreements have been notified to the GATT or the WTO?
- Recent RTA developments (July – December 2017)
- RTA Database
Access the most up-to-date information on Regional Trade Agreements notified to the GATT/WTO. - Map of RTAs by country/territory
Select a country or territory on the map to see its participation in regional trade agreements
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Transparency Mechanism for RTAs
WTO members agreed in 2006 to implement a provisional mechanism to enhance the transparency of RTAs and understand their effects on the multilateral system. Under this process, members notify the WTO about their RTAs and these are discussed by the wider WTO membership on the basis of a factual presentation prepared by the WTO Secretariat.
At the 10th Ministerial Conference in Nairobi in 2015, WTO members agreed to work towards the transformation of the provisional mechanism into a permanent mechanism without prejudice to questions related to notification requirements.
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Committee on Regional Trade Agreements
The Committee on Regional Trade Agreements considers individual regional agreements and is also mandated to hold discussions on the systemic implications of the agreements for the multilateral trading system. The CRTA's terms of reference can be found in WT/L/127. The Chair-designate is .
See also Transparency Mechanism communications (early announcements of RTAs, notifications of changes, etc.)
The Committee on Trade and Development also implements the Transparency Mechanism for RTAs between developing countries.
Negotiations on RTAs
Negotiations to clarify and improve WTO disciplines on RTAs fall under the work of the Negotiating Group on Rules, which reports to the Trade Negotiations Committee.
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WTO rules on regional trade agreements
The WTO’s rules on regional trade agreements:
- Text of GATT Art XXIV, Ad Art XXIV and its updates, including the1994 “Understanding”.
- Enabling Clause for developing countries.
Text of the 1979 GATT decision allowing preferential trade in goods among developing countries. - Text of GATS Article V
- Find decisions of WTO bodies concerning the regional trade agreements in the Analytical Index — Guide to WTO Law and Practice
- The Doha negotiating mandate
Section on regional trade agreements in the 2001 Doha Ministerial Declaration - Text of the 2006 General Council Decision on the Transparency Mechanism for Regional Trade Agreements
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Recent publications
- Discussion Paper No. 12: The Changing Landscape of RTAs: 2006 update
- Discussion Paper No. 8: The Changing Landscape of Regional Trade Agreements
- All staff working papers on RTAs
- Regional Trade Agreements and the Multilateral System
- All WTO publications on RTAs
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Recent events
- Book launch: Regional Trade Agreements and the Multilateral Trading System — 29 September 2016
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Other Resources / Databases of interest
- I-TIP-Services Portal A set of linked databases that provides information on Members' commitments under the WTO's General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS), services commitments in regional trade agreements (RTA), applied measures in services, and services statistics.
- Dataset of services commitments in RTAs
- World Customs Organization Database of Preferential Agreements and related Rules of Origin
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Contact Point:
Regional Trade Agreements Section
rta@wto.org
+41 (0)22 7396430
+41 (0)22 739 5774
- Recent RTA developments (July - December 2017)
