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In six of the 11 RTAs outside countries gained, too.
One is the fear that RTAs boost insiders at the expense of outsiders.
Instead, the cause of liberalisation is being advanced by regional trade agreements (RTAs).
The evidence suggests that RTAs do target these non-tariff barriers as well.
(Sectors like sugar and dairy proved resistant even in the best RTAs).
The number of RTAs has risen from around 70 in 1990 to over 300 today.
A 2011 OECD study looked at 55 RTAs, to see whether agricultural duties were lowered.
The RTAs included the EU and the NAFTA agreement between America, Canada and Mexico.
The findings again support RTAs: they tend to boost markets, especially when member countries are poorer and already trade a lot (so there is more to gain).Roadblocks and diversionsDespite these benefits, two big concerns about RTAs remain.
Unlike global deals, RTAs have the potential to shift activity away from efficient producers.A second concern is that regional deals lack rules stating that all members are equal.
If RTAs really do boost trade, the prospects for firms in an economy will improve when trade talks are announced, or are completed.
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