Models of participation in services regional trade agreements

Abstract

Little progress has been made in expanding and deepening the coverage of services liberalization commitments since the creation of the WTO. The absence of progress under the Doha Round has induced the countries to liberalize services trade at the regional level. Meanwhile, participation of Russia in regional cooperation projects is regarded traditionally only as a mechanism to develop the post-Soviet relations and not as an important instrument of trade policy towards far abroad countries. The article analyzes EU, US and ASEAN strategies to participate in regional trade agreements with services provisions. The article deals with the common and specific motives of countries and regions to draw up services regional trade agreements. The author provides suggestions for the use of foreign experience to rationalize Russian foreign trade policy.