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The purpose of this article is to discuss the institutional aspects of regional integration and its implication for the determination of external trade policies by a trade bloc. In particular, this study raises the question, can institutional designs in a regional integration area increase the responsiveness of trade authorities to protectionist demands? Contrary to some previous research, the analysis shows that the answer is affirmative. As illustrated by the European Union (EU) experience, the supply of trade protection in the context of regional integration crucially depends on the design and evolution of institutions adopted by the trade bloc. Moreover, the dynamic process of regional integration entails a redefinition of rules which inevitably attracts lobbying activities (in particular from those with protectionist interests). In consequence, in the absence of a strong political commitment, the danger exists that the design of new institutions will be captured by protectionist forces. (Journal of Common Market Studies / FUB)

Intro -- Title Page -- Copyright Page -- Dedication -- Table of Contents -- Acknowledgements -- List of Contributors -- Foreword -- Introduction -- PART I: RULES AND PROCEDURES: DESCRIPTION AND ASSESSMENT -- Chapter 1: State Aid Control: Objectives and Procedures -- Chapter 2: State Aid Rules: Do They Promote Efficiency? -- Chapter 3: Is State Aid in Decline? Trends of State Aid to Industry in the Member States of the European Union -- Chapter 4: EC Policy on State Aid: Are the Procedures "User-friendly"? The Rights of Third Parties -- PART II: THE "GUIDELINE" MECHANISM: HORIZONTAL, SECTORAL AND REGIONAL GUIDELINES -- Chapter 5: The Community Framework for State Aid for Research and Development: The Recent Practice of the Court and the Commission -- Chapter 6: Horizontal Guidelines: Do They Facilitate Job Creation? The Example of Employment Subsidies -- Chapter 7: Do State Aid Guidelines Facilitate Improvements in Competitiveness? The Example of Maritime Transport -- Chapter 8: State Aid in the Energy Sector in the EC: The Application of the Market Economy Investor Principle -- Chapter 9: Regional Development Guidelines: Do They Really Help Regional Development? -- Chapter 10: Competition Policy, Cohesion and Coherence? Member State Regional Policies and the New Regional Aid Guidelines -- PART III: FUTURE DEVELOPMENTS -- Chapter 11: State Aid Procedures: The Reform Project -- Chapter 12: Unequal Twins: Reform of the State Aid Rules under Article 94 -- ANNEXES.

1. The sweep of asymmetric trade negotiations : introduction and overview / Diana Tussie and Marcelo Saguier -- 2. The scope for asymmetry in the World Trad Organisation (WTO) / Stephen Woolcock -- 3. Asymmetric trade negotiations for development : what does the experiences from the ACP-EU economic partnership agreements tell us? / Sanoussi Bilal -- 4. Comparative asymmetric trade negotiations in the southern cone : FTAA and EU-MERCOSUR / Mercedes Botto and Andrea C. Bianculli -- 5. Venezuela in asymmetric trade negotiations : the case of negotiations in the FTAA and with the EU / Rita Giacalone -- 6. Negotiating the Colombia-US FTA : a Colombian perspective / Luis Jorge Garay, Philippe De Lombaerde and Fernando Barberi -- 7. Negotiating the Thailand-US free trade agreement / Wisarn Pupphavesa, Ludo Cuyvers, Santi Chaisrisawatsuk and Philippe De Lombaerde -- 8. Postscript : asymmetric trade negotiations after the turn-of-the-decade 'Global' financial crisis? / Timothy M. Shaw.

Combining a clear theoretical exposition with systematic cross-regional analysis, 'Asymmetric Trade Negotiations' offers a coherent picture of strategic, design and political economy aspects of North-South trade negotiation processes, from African, Asian and Latin American perspectives. Skilled area specialists gather to provide negotiators and policy makers in the South with recommendations, best practices, and benchmarks and contribute to the understanding of these recent processes.