Several types of agreements are concluded within the framework of the World Trade Organization (most often in the case of accession of new members), the conditions of which apply to all WTO members on the so-called most-favoured-nation (MFN) basis, which means that the advantageous terms agreed bilaterally with a trading partner also apply to other WTO members. The anti-globalization movement is almost by definition opposed to such agreements, but some groups normally allied within this movement, for example. B the Green parties aspire to fair trade or secure trade rules that mitigate the real and supposed negative effects of globalisation. Trade agreements that the WTO refers to as preferential are also called regional “RTAs”, although they are not necessarily concluded by countries in a given region. As of July 2007, 205 agreements are currently in force. More than 300 have been notified to the WTO. [10] The number of free trade agreements has increased considerably over the past decade. Between 1948 and 1994, the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT), the predecessor of the WTO, received 124 notifications. Since 1995, more than 300 trade agreements have been concluded. [11] Member States of a Customs UnionA customs union agreement is an agreement between two or more neighbouring countries aimed at eliminating barriers to trade, reducing or eliminating customs duties and abolishing quotas.
These trade unions were defined by the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) and constitute the third stage of economic integration. Removal of barriers to trade between them and adoption of common barriers to foreign trade. Other criticisms of ATRs are that they increase the cost of international trade for businesses (because each agreement has its own rules that businesses must comply with) and divert attention and resources from negotiations at the global level, where the potential for profits from trade liberalization is highest. On the other hand, proponents of IAS argue that they offer an opportunity to make progress in trade liberalization at a time when global talks are at a standstill (the small number of participants facilitates the agreement) and that they allow governments to go beyond wto agreements and thus achieve “deeper” integration; which can serve as a model for future global agreements. and that they strengthen export interests that are encouraged to work towards further liberalization.