ABSTRACT
Trade agreements are at the centre of the debate on international political economy and the process of economic globalisation. One side of this debate expresses the view that trade liberalisation and the strengthening of world trade rules will contribute to a sustained increase in national incomes and human welfare. The other side argues that the future contribution of international trade to economic growth is uncertain, that the benefits from growth may be unevenly spread between and within countries, and that it may adversely affect the environment, locally and globally.
