Figure 4: Tariffs and Non-tariff Measures

Source: Reprinted from” Evolution of the International Trading System and Its Trends from a Development

Perspective” UNCTAD, Trade and Development Board, TD/B/64/5, Sixty-fourth session, 3 July 2017. Retrieved

from

Second major pattern is the continuation of the proliferation of Regional Trade Agreements

(RTAs). While the World Trade Organization (WTO) expanded, reaching 164 Members by July

2016, all members participate to the existing RTAs or initiate new ones. The European

Union, The European Free Trade Association (EFTA), The North American Free Trade

Agreement (NAFTA), The Southern Common Market (MERCOSUR), The Association of

Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Free Trade Area (AFTA), and the Common Market of Eastern

and Southern Africa (COMESA) are among the best known RTAs. WTO notes that most of both

the existing RTAs in force and the new negotiations are bilateral. However there is a new trend

for plurilateral RTAs involving several WTO members. Among these are the Asia-Pacific Region

for a Comprehensive and Progressive Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) Agreement, the Pacific

Alliance in Latin America and the Tripartite Agreement between parties to COMESA, EAC and

SADC in Africa

. As of October 2018, 306 RTAs were in force. Figure 5 shows the increasing

number of RTAs since 1980.