Proliferation of PTAs in Asia and the Pacific

Abstract

Currently, 89 trade agreements are being implemented and at least another 100 are under consideration and negotiation. This is a small fraction of the possible 1,891 bilaterals that can be formed among the 62 ESCAP members and associate members. However, despite these distant theoretical limits, there is a growing feeling that the capacity of the region to accommodate more of similar agreements is diminishing. A quick visual test of the “noodle bowl” confirms that the bowl is already overflowing.