The Free Trade Area Of The Asia-Pacific

A Constructive Approach To Multilateralizing Asian Regionalism

This paper examines the prospect of realizing regional economic integration via the mechanism of a Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific (FTAAP). Some of the main findings of the article are that the FTAAP initiative could help revive and promote a successful conclusion of the Doha Round negotiations and could channel the People's Republic of China (PRC)-United States economic conflict into a more constructive and less confrontational context. By C. Fred Bergsten, Marcus Noland and Jeffrey J. Schott. Download.

Services Outsourcing and Innovation: An Empirical Investigation

The authors use firm-level panel data from the Republic of Ireland. They find a positive effect of international and domestic outsourcing of services on innovative activity. The article also finds that international outsourcing of services has a positive effect on profitability. Using various specifications or instrument variables does not alter the results. By Holger Görg & Aoife Hanley, 2011. Visit site.

Harnessing Business Opportunities in South Asia

ADB-FICCI Report

While economic cooperation and trade liberalization in South Asia has deepened, intraregional trade remains modest and the private sector continues to face numerous constraints. This ADB-Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) joint report articulates five key challenges facing business and their solutions for enhancing private-sector led integration in the region. Download.

Trade Tensions Mount: The 10th GTA Report

The threats to an open trading system mounted in the second half of 2011 for several reasons, including macroeconomic conditions deteriorated in Europe and [the People's Republic of] China and doubts about the strength of any US economic recovery, increasing protectionism and high profile commercial policy disputes between leading nations. Each of these developments is contributing to mounting trade tensions and likely reflects an erosion of various domestic political restraints on protectionism. The world trading system may face its greatest test in the year ahead. Visit site.

Asian Development Outlook 2011 Update

The annual Asian Development Outlook, generally launched in April, presents an analysis of developing Asia's recent economic performance plus its prospects for the next two years. This Update shows whether these forecasts were met, explaining divergence between forecasts and the actual outturn, and firms the forecasts for the next 18 months or so. Download.

World Trade Report 2011

The WTO and preferential trade agreements: From co-existence to coherence

The ever-growing number of preferential trade agreements (PTAs) is a prominent feature of international trade. The World Trade Report 2011 describes the historical development of PTAs and the current landscape of agreements. It examines why PTAs are established, their economic effects, and the contents of the agreements themselves. Finally it considers the interaction between PTAs and the multilateral trading system. Visit site.