Trade Agreement Fundamentals

• Overview

The globalized business environment has brought to the fore the challenges of overlapping regulation and legal compliance issues in multiple jurisdictions. In numerous instances, the United States and other countries have actively engaged the political process to lessen the burdens of operating internationally through the implementation of trade agreements. These agreements are not solely focused on the importation and exportation of goods, but may also embrace the international trade in services, as well as foreign investment, immigration and related issues. Consequently, those engaged in the international aspects of nearly every industry should find it profitable to develop a knowledge base regarding trade agreements and how these agreements may be utilized to enhance operations conducted abroad.

Authors

Agenda

Overview: Legal and Economic Policy Considerations/Political Background

Types of Agreements: Multilateral, Regional, Bilateral

Multilateral Cooperation: World Trade Organization

Regional Cooperation: Americas, Africa, Asia

Completed Bilateral Agreements: Australia, Bahrain, Chile, Morocco, Oman, Singapore, etc.

Incomplete and Pending Agreements

Case-In-Point: North American Free Trade Agreement

Analysis: Trade Liberalization and Effects

Concluding Remarks