Preferential trade agreements in the Asia-Pacific region
International Monetary Fund
Washington DC
IMF Working Paper WP/05/149
Preferential Trade Agreements in the Asia-Pacific Region
by Tubagus Feridhanusetyawan
July 2005
Preferential trade agreements (PTAs) in the Asia-Pacific region have proliferated rapidly
over the past five years and are creating a complex web of intersecting bilateral and regional
trade agreements. This paper describes the proliferation of these PTAs, discusses their
characteristics and implementation, and assesses their potential effects. Realizing the
potential gains from Asia-Pacific PTAs requires a commitment to liberalize sensitive sectors,
to maintain consistent provisions, and to enforce agreements. Other factors, including
administrative complications, also could undermine any potential gains.
