This panel, organized by CIGI, will discuss the potential exclusionary properties of RTAs and how these can be mitigated by the establishment of enhanced transparency mechanisms in the WTO.
The Transparency Mechanisms on RTAs reflect some of the most recent transparency challenges in the WTO. The panel will discuss the transformation of the current provisional Transparency Mechanisms into a permanent mechanism on regional trade agreement and will address the inclusiveness potential created by the two mechanisms for developing and least developed countries, other small and medium-sized economies that are not part of RTAs and various industries that request information on the effect of the proliferating RTAs on WTO rules.
It will also aim to propose next steps for the Committee on Regional Trade Agreements in order to ensure that the WTO remains as inclusive in view of the expansion of the spaghetti bowl of RTAs for Member States officials, practitioners and businesses alike.
