Regional and multilateral trade liberalization: Considering next steps: Workshop proceedings, March 16, 2001

• Main Author: APEC Study Center
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: unknown
• Published: Columbia University 2001
• Subjects: Commerce; International relations; North Atlantic
• Online Access: https://dx.doi.org/10.7916/d8697bd5; https://academiccommons.columbia.edu/doi/10.7916/D8697BD5

This distinguished group has gathered at Columbia University to examine regional trade arrangements under negotiation and in place and to consider their potential impact on the multilateral system and the next round of multilateral trade negotiations. The apparent tension between regional and multilateral trade liberalizing initiatives has a long history. The first “NAFTA,” for example, was a proposal nearly 40 years ago to establish some kind of North Atlantic free trade arrangement because multilateral negotiations appeared to some to be running out of steam. This notion that regional arrangements can supplement or even spur multilateral negotiations remains with us today. This workshop examines a number of new developments that warrant serious consideration and serve as the context for this gathering.