A survey of investment provisions in regional trade agreements

Vasyl Chornyi, Marianna Nerushay and Jo-Ann Crawford

No ERSD-2016-07, WTO Staff Working Papers from World Trade Organization (WTO), Economic Research and Statistics Division

Abstract: The liberalization and protection of investment flows has become an increasingly indispensable pillar of economic integration. The objective of this study is to contribute to a better understanding of the ways in which RTAs achieve such liberalization and protection. To this end, we have surveyed the investment provisions contained in 260 RTAs notified to the WTO by 31 December 2015 and in force on that date. More than half of these RTAs contain investment chapters, though they vary in terms of their substantive scope and coverage. Given the unabated increase in the number of RTAs and the push towards greater economic integration we expect this figure to further increase. The main categories of investment provisions in RTAs reviewed in the paper include the definitions of investment and investor, investment liberalization, investment protection and ISDS. Also included in our analysis are provisions supporting the investment framework, host state flexibilities, investment promotion, as well as provisions on sustainable and socially responsible investment.

Keywords: Regional Trade Agreements; investment (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: F15 F21 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2016
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-int
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (5)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:zbw:wtowps:ersd201607

DOI: 10.30875/db299b0b-en

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