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Is the WTO's Article XXIV Bad?

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Author Info
Monika Mrazova () (Department of Economics and Balliol College, University of Oxford)
David Vines () (Department of Economics and Balliol College, University of Oxford)
Ben Zissimos () (Department of Economics, Vanderbilt University)

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Abstract

This paper shows that the WTO's Article XXIV increases the likelihood of free trade, but may worsen world welfare when free trade is not reached and customs unions (CUs) form. We consider a model of many countries. Article XXIV prevents a CU from raising its common external tariff, which makes CU formation less attractive and explains why free trade is more likely. In an equilibrium where two CUs do form, one is necessarily larger than the other. We show that Article XXIV has a composition effect on CU formation, whereby CUs are (endogenously) less asymmetric in size so more goods are subject to tariff distortions as they move between CUs; thus Article XXIV may be 'bad' for world welfare.

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File URL: http://www.vanderbilt.edu/Econ/wparchive/workpaper/vu09-w02.pdf
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File Function: First version, 2009
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Publisher Info
Paper provided by Department of Economics, Vanderbilt University in its series Working Papers with number 0902.

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Date of creation: Jan 2009
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Handle: RePEc:van:wpaper:0902

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Related research
Keywords: Coalition formation game; customs union; protection; trade block; trade liberalization;

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Find related papers by JEL classification:
F02 - International Economics - - General - - - International Economic Order; Noneconomic International Organizations;; Economic Integration and Globalization: General
F13 - International Economics - - Trade - - - Trade Policy; International Trade Organizations
F15 - International Economics - - Trade - - - Economic Integration

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    Other versions:
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  6. Wilfred J. Ethier, 1998. "Regionalism in a Multilateral World," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 106(6), pages 1214-1245, December. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
  7. Aghion, Philippe & Antras, Pol & Helpman, Elhanan, 2007. "Negotiating free trade," Journal of International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 73(1), pages 1-30, September. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
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  8. Bond, Eric W. & Riezman, Raymond G. & Syropoulos, Constantinos, 2004. "A strategic and welfare theoretic analysis of free trade areas," Journal of International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 64(1), pages 1-27, October. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
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  10. Syropoulos, Constantinos, 1999. "Customs Unions and Comparative Advantage," Oxford Economic Papers, Oxford University Press, vol. 51(2), pages 239-66, April.
  11. Bhagwati, Jagdish & Greenaway, David & Panagariya, Arvind, 1998. "Trading Preferentially: Theory and Policy," Economic Journal, Royal Economic Society, vol. 108(449), pages 1128-48, July. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
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    Other versions:
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