The Ten Free Trade Zones in the World Today

Here is a short collection of links to articles on world trade. We hope these will give the reader more background on the subject of the evolving regionalization underway in the world.

1. WTO (World Trade Organization) 2007 Annual Report  PDF File

   What is the WTO?

2. The European Union  (EU)

3. The European Free Trade Association  (EFTA)

   EFTA Agreement – Full Text

   Goals: http://secretariat.efta.int/Web/EFTAAtAGlance/introduction

4. The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)

   NAFTA Agreement – Full Text

5. Security and Prosperity Partnership Of North America - SPP (North American Union?)

   Scholars Explain Bush's SPP

   Security and Prosperity Partnership: Lou Dobbs - April 4, 2007

   North American Union to Replace USA?

6. The Southern Common Market (MERCOSUR) (Spanish & Portuguese)

   MERCOSUR Treaty of Asuncion  – Full Text: English

   Mercosur: South America’s Fractious Trade Bloc (Council on Foreign Relations article in English)

7. The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Free Trade Area

Background, creation, purpose and history: PDF File

China, Asean to advance free trade  By Sun Shangwu (China Daily)

China-ASEAN

ASEAN+China, Japan, ROK (10+3) summit held

“ASEAN Plus Three – Perspectives of Regional Integration in East Asia and the Lessons from Europe” 30 November – 1 December 2003 - Seoul, Korea

Tibet to attend 3rd China-ASEAN Expo

8. The Common Market of Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA)

9. Middle East Free Trade Area Initiative   (MEFTA)

10. COOPERATION COUNCIL FOR THE ARAB STATES OF THE GULF (GCC)

(GCC Home Page) http://www.gcc-sg.org/eng/index.php

(GCC Charter) http://www.gcc-sg.org/eng/index.php?action=Sec-Show&ID=1

The Economic Agreement Between the GCC States

11. The Kingdom of Jordan:  Foreign Ministry: Trade Overview:

12. Greater Arab Free Trade Area (GAFTA) 1 January, 2005

    Members:

    1. Jordan

    2. Bahrain

    3. United Arab Emirates

    4. Tunisia

    5. Saudi Arabia

    6. Syria

    7. Iraq

    8. Oman

    9. Qatar

    10. Kuwait

    11. Lebanon

    12. Libya

    13. Egypt

    14. Morocco

    15. Sudan

    16. Yemen

    17. Palestine

    Possible future members:

    18. Comoros

    19. Djibouti

    20. Mauritania

    21. Somalia

    The Arab League has a long history of trying to foster trade and economic cooperation among its member states, with several initiatives takes in the 1950s and 1960s.

    In 1981, an agreement to facilitate and promote inter-Arab trade was signed, but to little effect.

    In February 1997, the League decided to create an Arab Free Trade Area, also known as the Greater Arab Free Trade Area or the Pan-Arab Free Trade Area, by 2008. This would be achieved through a 10% reduction in customs fees each year as well as the gradual elimination of trade barriers. Eighteen of the 22 Arab League states signed on to this agreement, which came into force on 1 January 1998.

    In March 2001, it was decided to speed up the liberalisation process, and on 1 January 2005 the elimination of most tariffs among the GAFTA members was enforced.

    The 17 states that are members of GAFTA are: Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates and Yemen. Others are in the process of joining.

    Source: http://www.bilaterals.org/rubrique.php3?id_rubrique=169

    Source: http://www.jordanecb.org/agreements_arabcountries2.shtm