Implementing Regional Trade Agreements (RTAs) for Inclusive Re-Globalization

This is a recording of a panel presented during the 2024 WTO Public Forum “Re-globalisation: better trade for a better world” in Geneva on 13 September. 

The session was organised and moderated by Nicolas Köhler-Suzuki from the Jacques Delors Institute and included CustomsClear’s Anna Jerzewska as one of the speakers. 

The session explored the implementation of Regional Trade Agreements (RTAs) and their interaction with the multilateral trading system. The panel assessed the critical role of RTAs in this process and their potential to foster a more sustainable and inclusive re-globalization. Key questions included: 

• What is the contemporary role of RTAs in the international trading system? 
• How do RTAs complement the multilateral trading system? 
• Are RTAs promoting an inclusive and sustainable global economy or contributing to fragmentation?

The panel presented recent evidence on the effectiveness of RTAs and explored ways to improve their implementation. It talked about the challenges in navigating the “noodle bowl” of RTAs for private sector companies. The speakers also evaluated current data and identified gaps for the analysis of preference utilization. Finally, the panel looked at RTAs’ contributions to sustainability objectives.

Tomasz Gonciarz from the World Trade Organization presented the upcoming WTO RTA database. 

Dr Anna Jerzewska from CustomsClear, spoke about practical challenges around the utilisation of trade agreements and lessons learned for wider sustainability policies. 

Valerie Picard from the International Chamber of Commerce covered the Chamber’s experience supporting businesses around the world in using RTAs and self-certification. 

Colette van der Ven from Tulip Consulting shed light on the sustainability chapter of RTAs, their enforcement and dispute settlement provisions.