Currently, the WTO has recorded that over 170 Regional and Bilateral Trade Agreements (RTAs) are currently in force globally with an additional 70 estimated to be operational although not yet officially notified to the WTO. The proliferation of RTAs has increased dramatically since 1990, with the WTO estimating that "By the end of 2005, if RTAs reportedly planned or already under negotiation are concluded, the total number of RTAs in force might well approach 300."

The WTO requires for its Members that RTAs must go beyond commitments already undertaken in the WTO.  For this reason, and since RTAs involve fewer countries, there negotiations are often more ambitious and speedier than WTO negotiations.   Many critics of the current model of aggressive trade liberalization, including the IGTN, argue that power imbalances between countries become more apparent in regional and bilateral negotiations, weakening the negotiating position of developing countries.

The US has been a chief promoter of regional and bilateral trade agreements.  Frustrated with the slow pace and ultimate collapse of negotiations for a Free Trade Agreement of the Americas, the US Trade Representative shifted gears and is pursuing RTAs to advance US interests.  The rationale is that countries will not oppose commitments in an FTAA that they have already made in a regional or bilateral deal with the United States.  The US is currently party to eight RTAs and is negotiating or considering ratification of an additional eight. 

Resource

Gender implications of the EU-Centro American Association Agreement. By Tessa Mackenzie, Central America Women´s Network -CAWN. A WIDE publication. November, 2007.

Gender implications of the EU - Ukraine trade relations. By Oksana Kisselyova, Liberal Society Institute. A WIDE publication. November, 2007.

Gender implications of EU - ASEAN Free Trade Agreement. By Natividad Bernardino, IGTN Asia. A WIDE publication. November, 2007.

Economic growth without social justice: EU¬India trade negotiations and their implications for social development and gender justice. By Christa Wichterich, with input by Yamini Mishra and Pam Rajput - IGTN Europe focal point (WIDE). October, 2007.

"Bilateral and Regional Free Trade Initiatives: political and sectoral issues" By Mariarosaria Iorio, Rio de Janeiro, October, 2007.  This is the III IGTN Working Paper!

It refers to the RTAs and FTAs as strategies to foster their economic and political partnerships with developing countries. It highlights systemic and legal issues that the move toward regionalism from the point of view of consistency and as from a developmental and gender-friendly perspective. It points out both systemic and rules-related dangers from a gender perspective.  It is worth highlighting critical systemic and legal issues, while exemplifying political guidelines that underpin economic official discourse on development and integration of developing countries in the world trading system as a means for development.  It also exposes main policy guidelines on free trade initiatives of the ECs and the USA.