1、Bi-lateral，Multi -lateral &Regional trade agreements1 Introductions Regional economic integration has become one of the most striking trend of international economic relations, Since the 1990 s, regional economic integration organizations, such as bamboo shoots sprang up in the whole world, forming
2、a strong new wave. , the rapid advance of the new wave of cooperation, the content of broad, flexible mechanism, forms of diversity, is unprecedented. This wave of regional economic integration not only reflects the new characteristics of in-depth development of economic globalization, but also refl
3、ects the new trend of world Multi-polarization tortuous development. Regional economic integration:Refers to a certain geographical relations of two or more than two countries or regions, in order to maintain the common economic and political interests, by signing a treaty or agreement between the g
4、overnment, formulate common principles and concerted policy action, even through the established governments agreement authorized institutions together, a long-term and stable supranational economic adjustment, to achieve economic and political unionIn this report, we will focus on European Union to
5、 study our topic.2 The case AnalyzingEuropean Union(EU)The European Union (EU) is a political and economic union of 27, located primarily in. It was established by the in 1993 upon the foundations of the pre-existing. With almost 500 million citizens, the EU combined generates an estimated 30% share
6、 of the worlds nominal (16.8 trillion in 2007).European Union FlagThis is the European Union flag. The background is the blue sky. There are twelve golden stars. They form a circle. The circle means the union of the peoples of Europe. Twelve means perfection and completeness. Since 1986 the flag has
7、 been used as the European Union flag by the Council of Europe.EU economic situationEconomic policies are suggested and implemented at both the national and European level. Indeed, economic policy is primarily a national responsibility, even if the Treaty declares that it should be regarded “as a ma
8、tter of common concern“ and 3coordinated within the Council. A group of Member States have integrated their economies even further by adopting the single currency, which is now used by more than half the EUs citizens.The coordination of economic policies is done by monitoring the economic developmen
9、ts in each Member State and the EU on the basis of various reports by DG ECFIN on behalf of the Commission. This multilateral surveillance also includes a check that economic policies are consistent with the EUs roadmap for growth and jobs in the so-called Integrated Guidelines Package.The euroThe e
10、uro is the single currency shared by (currently) 17 of the European Unions Member States, which together make up the euro area. The introduction of the euro in 1999 was a major step in European integration: around 330 million EU citizens now use it as their currency.When the euro was launched on 1 J
11、anuary 1999, it became the new official currency of 11 Member States, replacing the old national currencies such as the Deutschmark and the French franc in two stages. First the euro was introduced as an accounting currency for cash-less payments and accounting 4purposes, while the old currencies co
12、ntinued to be used for cash payments. Since 1 January 2002 the euro has been circulating in physical form, as banknotes and coins. The euro is not the currency of all EU Member States. Two countries (Denmark and the United Kingdom) have opt-out clauses in the Treaty exempting them from participation
13、, while the remainder (several of the more recently acceded EU members plus Sweden) have yet to meet the conditions for adopting the single currency. The effects of regional integration: Positive : Regional economic integration within the region to pursue free trade principle, the removal of trade b
14、arriers. Free trade policy brings all kinds of benefits will help member states to enhance consciousness of free trade and protect trade in the region is at the same time constraint mechanism for internal trade protection advocates members play a deterrent. To the countries and regions beyond the gr
15、oup often adopted a policy of discrimination The economy between the group and organization more 5competitive and sharp Regional economic group, scale and level of competition between an unprecedented increase. Which hindered the economic globalization. Negative: Regional economic group shall carry
16、out the protection of domestic free trade, foreign trade policy to trade, the policy of “are“ obvious departure from the principle of non-discrimination multilateral trading system, form a protectionist barriers to trade. Regional economic integration organizations have varying degrees of “trade div
17、ersion effect“, a departure from the principle of comparative advantage, damage to areas outside the country, often leads to areas inside and outside the trade friction and conflict. Regional economic integration organizations increased monopoly power in the international market, restrain competitio
18、n, weakened the role of the WTO system.6 Regional economic integration organizations all countries to pursue the goal of free trade from the multilateral trade agreements to regional integration organization arrangement, is not conducive to play a role in the WTO system and further development. The suggestion: The member states of the region should be mutual reciprocity and mutual benefit, common development. Regional cooperation should break the regional protectionism, cross-regional cooperation actively Equal treatment of every member, nondiscrimination area outside the country
