Investing in Protection
The Politics of Preferential Trade Agreements between North and South

Offers a new perspective on the roles of the state and multilateral corporations in changing patterns of international trade.

Mark S. Manger (Author)

9780521748704, Cambridge University Press

Paperback, published 3 September 2009

284 pages, 26 tables
22.9 x 15.3 x 1.4 cm, 0.46 kg

'Mark Manger has added a high-quality, original contribution to this literature and one with clear policy relevance.' John Odell, University of Southern California

Since the early 1990s the world has seen an explosion of preferential trade agreements (PTAs) between North and South. Mark Manger argues that current North-South PTAs are not primarily about liberalizing exports as is usually assumed. Rather, they are driven by the needs of foreign direct investment. The interests of multinational firms in investing in developing countries converge with the desires of the host countries to attract foreign capital. Yet to be politically feasible in the developed country, North-South PTAs must discriminate against third countries. PTAs thus create a competitive dynamic between countries, as excluded firms lobby their governments to restore access to important investment locations, leading to yet more preferential agreements. Based on extensive research in Europe, Japan, and the Americas and interviews with decision-makers in governments and the private sector, this book offers a new perspective on the roles of the state and corporations in international trade.

1. Introduction
2. Framework for analysis
3. NAFTA – the original sin?
4. Iberian ties: the EU-Mexico free trade agreement
5. The odd couple: the Japan-Mexico free trade agreement
6. The far side of the world: preferential trade agreements with Chile
7. Japan's NAFTA route: preferential trade agreements with Malaysia and Thailand
8. Conclusions and implications.

Subject Areas: International economic & trade law [LBBM], International economics [KCL], International relations [JPS]