Free Trade Agreements in Asia: Economic imperatives or footholds for external relevance?

• Main Author: María J. García
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Universidad de Deusto 2012-10-01
• Series: Cuadernos Europeos de Deusto
• Subjects: acuerdos de libre comercio; relaciones ue-asia; política comercial; negociaciones
• Online Access: http://ced.revistas.deusto.es/article/view/956

<p>This paper charts the motivations behind the European Union’s free trade agreements (FTAs) in East Asia. Economists have cast doubts as to the benefits of individual FTAs between large economies and smaller ones, such as the agreements under negotiation between the EU and Vietnam, Singapore, Malaysia and India. This paper engages with this literature by focusing on the interplay between material interests pursued by the EU’s trade policy in Asia and the political motivations, amongst which maintaining a significant international engagement and shaping future economic governance occupy a prime role. An empirical analysis based on documentary and interview materials is subject to process tracing to further our understanding of how different interests and ideas are articulated in foreign policy.</p><p><strong>Received</strong>: 07 March 2012<br /><strong>Accepted</strong>: 15 March 2012<br /><strong>Published online</strong>: 15 April 2016</p>