Are deep trade agreements a solution for Asia?

Abstract

The current crisis in the international trading system has led many to ask whether Asia can succeed where the WTO has failed. The purpose of this paper is to discuss the possibility of stronger regional trade ties as a result of the turmoil in the WTO. It is argued that, given its size and heterogeneity, Asia is unlikely to succeed in deepening trade relations as a continent, but it could succeed with a well selected and targeted group of countries.