Title: The bandwagon of preferential agreements: why should South Asia join them more aggressively?

Authors: Md. Rizwanul Islam

Addresses: Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia

Abstract: Preferential Trading Arrangements (PTAs) have become the order of the day. A significant portion of global cross-border trade is now being carried out on preferential terms. In a similar vein, seven of the eight member states of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) have recently concluded the South Asian Free Trade Agreement (SAFTA). Despite that, so far, the progress of subregional trade cooperation in South Asia appears to be rather bleak. The purpose of this paper is to explain why the subregional countries should join in this wave of PTAs more earnestly and strengthen the SAFTA.

Keywords: preferential trading agreements; South Asian Free Trade Agreement; SAFTA; South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation; SAARC; preferential trading arrangements; PTAs; cross-border trade; international trade; globalisation; trade cooperation.

DOI: 10.1504/IJLSE.2009.024892

International Journal of Liability and Scientific Enquiry, 2009 Vol.2 No.3, pp.294 - 308

Published online: 03 May 2009 *

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