As the Doha Round continues to stagnate, mega FTAs such as the Trans-Pacific Partnership will likely play the leading role in trade rulemaking for some time to come, creating a 'spaghetti bowl' of trade rules. This column argues that we should multilateralise the results of mega FTAs on an issue-by-issue basis, starting with an International Supply Chain Agreement.
As the Doha Round of trade negotiations under the WTO continues to stagnate, mega FTAs - such as the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), the economic partnership agreement between Japan and the EU, and the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership between the US and the EU - will likely play the leading role in trade rulemaking for some time to come. At the same time, however, mega FTAs are meant to set rules for and enhance value chains within specific geographic regions, and they will not directly lead to the creation of global trade rules. They even pose a significant risk of creating a 'spaghetti bowl' of conflicting trade rules.
Possible scenarios for mega FTAs governance
We can consider four possible scenarios for the relationship between the development and governance of global value chains and mega FTAs.
Scenario 1: Euphoric scenario
This is the scenario favoured by mega FTA advocates. Their argument is inferred to be based on the following premises:
1) Mega FTAs will be concluded before long
2) There will be no or only a modest spaghetti bowl of rules
3) Entangling rules can and will be harmonised
4) Harmonisation will not take much time
5) Rules resulting from harmonisation will serve as the basis for rulemaking at the WTO
6) Differences in rules applicable inside and outside mega FTAs (members versus non-members) will not pose any major problems
These premises point to an ideal scenario (Figure 1). Mega FTAs will be concluded soon, spaghetti bowl problems will be solved in due time (ICSTD 2012), and a new set of trade rules - particularly for areas not covered by the existing rules - will emerge to serve as the basis for future rulemaking at the WTO. However, in order for this to be realised, all of the above premises must be correct.
Scenario 2: WTO 2.0
The second scenario is that of 'WTO 2.0' (Baldwin 2011, 2012). Baldwin has been arguing that mega FTAs will create a "WTO 2.0," a new governing body for 21st century trade rules as compared to the existing WTO which governs 20th century trade rules (Figure 2).
Scenario 3: Spaghetti bowl of rules (Fragmentation Scenario)
Taking an excessively optimistic view of mega FTAs is dangerous. Let's examine each premise underlying Scenario 1.
Regarding premise 1), given the level of ambition and the diversity of countries involved, it is generally reasonable to assume that it takes quite some time to conclude a mega FTA. Regarding premises 2) through 4), the harmonisation of rules across mega FTAs, which tends to involve adjusting differences in economic systems, are prone to hitting a wall. In concluding its FTAs with the EU and the US, South Korea had to apply different definitions with respect to international standards in the areas of automobiles and electronics and electrical products. As such, it seems unavoidable that the emergence of mega FTAs will result in conflicting rules in various areas of trade in the coming years (Note 1). Areas prone to conflicting rules include intellectual property (e.g. treatment of right infringement on the internet), information (e.g., relationship between the cross-border transfer of information and privacy), and competition (e.g. definition of "state-owned enterprises" and discipline on their behaviour). There is no guarantee for harmonisation to be completed in a short period of time as stated in premise 4), and if no harmonisation takes place, premise 5) fails, and there will be no basis for rulemaking at the WTO. As to premise 6), differences in rules applicable inside and outside mega FTAs could pose a major problem as value chains are changing constantly in all aspects - i.e., procurement, production, and distribution - and in terms of countries concerned (IDE-JETRO and WTO 2011).
Scenario 4: Towards the development of harmonised trade policy
In order for mega FTAs to be able to become the basis for truly global value chains and trade system, what perspectives are needed?
First, it is necessary to have a clear vision of the future trade system we intend to build and design a global solution - not a regional solution - to achieve that end. Indeed, what the business community is looking for is not a regional solution by means of FTAs but a global solution. In this regard, drawing a strategy with an eye set on future WTO rules is essential.
Second, ensuring transparency, disclosure, information sharing is critically important. Today, there is a compelling need to promote the multilateralisation of FTAs and the localisation of WTO rules. Transparency and the distribution of accurate information are what constitute the foundation of this endeavour.
Third, the concept of global value chains and the viewpoint of the business community must be fully taken into consideration. The necessity of global value chains is now becoming a common view of business communities across the world.
Fourth, we should embrace the concept of issue-based international rulemaking (Nakatomi 2012b, 2013). It is important to multilateralise the results of mega FTAs on an issue-by-issue basis and utilise issue-based plurilateral agreements such as an International Supply Chain Agreement.
What is the International Supply Chain Agreement?
The International Supply Chain Agreement is a concept of a comprehensive plurilateral agreement on global supply chains, which I proposed in November 2012 (Note 2). Readers are advised to refer to the proposal (Nakatomi 2012a) for details, but I would like to provide a general overview and idea of the concept.
Basic principles
In proposing the International Supply Chain Agreement, I defined some basic principles which, inter alia, include:
1) Creating the basis for future WTO rules
2) Not undermining the Doha Round
3) Extending resulting benefits to non-participants on a most-favoured-nation basis in general
4) Contributing to the elimination of the spaghetti bowl phenomenon in the rules of origin and in the rules
5) Aiming to achieve an early conclusion; and
6) Cooperating and consulting closely with the business community
Among those, 1) and 4) are the two sides of the same coin, representing the perception that the goal of global value chains is to create an efficient global trade environment which is incompatible with the presence of multiple conflicting rules. There are pros and cons regarding 3), i.e. the most-favoured-nation extension of benefits resulting from the International Supply Chain Agreement. However, successful plurilateral agreements- the Information Technology Agreement, the Basic Telecommunication Services Agreement, and the Financial Services Agreement - extend their benefits to non-participants on a most-favoured-nation basis and following those examples would definitely increase the probability of success significantly. Regarding 5), a sense of speediness is important in negotiating the International Supply Chain Agreement, and it must be concluded before too much harm is done by mega FTAs. It may be necessary to set a clear timeframe for negotiations, for instance, to achieve a conclusion within three years.
Areas to be covered by the International Supply Chain Agreement
Specific areas that may be covered are as detailed in the proposal. Here, I would like to remind that the goal of the Agreement is to improve global value chains, and the key to achieving that end lies in close cooperation and coordination between governments and business communities. It is essential to select areas subject to negotiation in such a way as not to end up with an agenda that is too heavy to digest (Nakatomi 2012b).
This article first appeared on www.VoxEU.org on August 15, 2013. Reproduced with permission.