About | HeinOnline Law Journal Library | HeinOnline Law Journal Library | HeinOnline
LOG IN
LOG IN

36 J. Common Mkt. Stud. 1 (1998)

handle is hein.journals/jcmks36 and id is 1 raw text is: Journal of Common Market Studies Vol. 36, No. 1 March 1998 Political Economy Considerations on the Supply of Trade Protection in Regional Integration Agreements * SANOUSSI BLAL European Institute of Public Administration O.L. Vrouweplein 22, P.O. Box 1229 NL-6201 BE Maastricht The Netherlands Abstract The purpose of this article is to discuss the institutional aspects of regional integration and its implication for the determination of external trade policies by a trade bloc. In particular, this study raises the question, can institutional designs in a regional integration area increase the responsiveness of trade authorities to protectionist demands? Contrary to some previous research, the analysis shows that the answer is affirmative. As illustrated by the European Union (EU) experience, the supply of trade protection in the context of regional integration crucially depends on the design and evolution of institutions adopted by the trade bloc. Moreover, the dynamic process of regional integra- tion entails a redefinition of rules which inevitably attracts lobbying activities (in particular from those with protectionist interests). In consequence, in the absence of a strong political commitment, the danger exists that the design of new institutions will be captured by protectionist forces. I. Introduction The recent proliferation of regional integration agreements (RIAs), including the North American Free Trade Area (NAFTA), and other agreements in Latin *I would like to thank Jaime de Melo and L. Alan Winters, as well as Jim L. Ford, Jean-Marie Grether, Marcelo Olarreaga and an anonymous referee for their helpful comments. D Blackwell Publishers Ltd 1998, 108 Cowley Road, Oxford OX4 1JF, UK and 350 Main Street, Malden, MA 02148, USA

What Is HeinOnline?

HeinOnline is a subscription-based resource containing thousands of academic and legal journals from inception; complete coverage of government documents such as U.S. Statutes at Large, U.S. Code, Federal Register, Code of Federal Regulations, U.S. Reports, and much more. Documents are image-based, fully searchable PDFs with the authority of print combined with the accessibility of a user-friendly and powerful database. For more information, request a quote or trial for your organization below.



Short-term subscription options include 24 hours, 48 hours, or 1 week to HeinOnline.

Purchase Access

Contact us for annual subscription options:

Contact Us

Already a HeinOnline Subscriber?

Log In

profiles profiles most