Deep Integration in EU FTAs

Abstract

This paper explores the paradox that the EU invests significant effort into including regulatory issues into Free Trade Agreements with apparently little binding impact other than in the case of prospective candidate countries who are likely to become members of the EU. The explanation does not appear to be pressure from the EU for binding agreements that is resisted by developing country partners. The main non trade issues in the recent CARIFORUM EPA appear to have been sought by the CARIFORUM negotiators, perhaps for internal reasons. The EU may also be seeking to establish softlaw precedents for more binding rules, but there is little evidence as yet of this and the EU itself is equally unwilling to be bound, eg on competition policy, leaving the mystery still unresolvedNon trade issues, bilateral trade agreements