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ECON3315 International Economic Issues. Instructor: Patrick M. Crowley. Issue 7: Preferential trading areas: NAFTA and the EU. Overview. Balassa’s steps of economic integration Integration in practice: NAFTA, the EU, and other regional integration projects NAFTA The EU.
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ECON3315International Economic Issues Instructor: Patrick M. Crowley Issue 7: Preferential trading areas: NAFTA and the EU
Overview • Balassa’s steps of economic integration • Integration in practice: NAFTA, the EU, and other regional integration projects • NAFTA • The EU
Balassa’s steps of regional economic integration • Bela Belassa (1963) first came up with steps for countries to be more economically integrated • Steps are as follows: • Free trade • Customs union • Common market • Economic union • Monetary union • Fiscal union • Political union • What’s the difference between a free trade area and a customs union? • Do countries wanting more regional integration have to follow in the order above?
Integration in practice Many examples of regional economic integration around the world: North America – CUFTA and NAFTA Europe – EU, EFTA, BAFTA, CEFTA Caribbean – CARICOM Central and South America – Mercosur, SELA, CAN Africa – AU, SACU, COMESA, WAEMU Asia – ASEAN, AFTA Australasia – ANZFTA - see http://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/region_e/region_e.htm for more
NAFTA • Grew out of CUFTA – idea was to extend to Mexico, but whole new agreement happened • Basically a free trade area, but with side agreements on labor standards, environment, and migration of professionals • “Rules of origin” allow for duty free trade as long as 62.5% of value added within NAFTA • Environmental commission set up in Montreal to oversee complaints about environmental degradation • “Snap-back” provision allows for tariffs to be restored if surge of imports threatens domestic industry • Trade dispute mechanism consists of 3 experts – usually resolves disputes amicably – exceptions though (e.g. softwood lumber)
NAFTA • Maquiladora program • US boom of the 90s benefited maquiladoras, but China’s entry into the WTO has eroded competitiveness of plants, with many closing • Critics say that although trade has increased, Mexican real wages in manufacturing have fallen, and also environmental degradation evident • Difficult to say if NAFTA has had large effects, as phased in over 10 years, and also lots of other events happening • Impact clearly much greater on Canada and Mexico than on the US
EU • Originally formed as a customs union for steel and coal (Treaty of Rome 1958) • Grew into EEC – customs union • Then EC – common market (Single Market 1992) • Then EU – economic union and some political pooling of sovereignty (European Parliament) • Now EMU, which also involves monetary union (euro) (Treaty of Maastricht, 1991) • Big debate in 90s surrounded widening vs deepening • Now 27 member states, with EMU adopted by only 13 member states • Switzerland and Norway do not want to join, and France has effectively stopped Turkey from joining
EU • Trade creation significant • Trade diversion also present, although size differs depending on study • EMU is thought to have increased trade significantly, although estimates vary widely • Growth and Stability pact has “coordinated” fiscal policy • Commission acts as civil service but can also impose fines • European Council decides on major issues
EMU timeline • ERM of the EMS (79) • Delors report (89) • Treaty of Maastricht (91) • Currency crisis (92-93) • Euro introduced and exchange rates fixed (99) • Money euro introduced (02) • Greece added (04) • Slovenia added (07) • Cyprus and Malta added (08) • Slovakia added (09)