Camouflaged Trade Agreements

Elie Appelbaum and Mark Melatos

Working Papers from York University, Department of Economics

Abstract: We raise the possibility that at least some of the free trade areas observed in practice are customs unions in disguise. We distinguish between generalized and standard customs unions. While members of the former can choose different external tariff rates, members of the latter levy a common external tariff. The chief insight is that, in practice, it is typically not possible to differentiate between a generalized customs union and a free trade area. We demonstrate that generalized customs unions will be established and offer an explanation for the design of Article XXIV of the General agreement on Tariffs and Trade.

Keywords: Customs Union; Common External Tariff; Free Trade Area; General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade; Trade Agreement; World Trade Organization (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: F12 F13 F15 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 27 pages
Date: 2012-05-30
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-int
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:yca:wpaper:2012_2

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