1. East Asian Economic Integration
세계지역주의와 아시아경제통합
Regionalism and
East Asian Economic Integration
Hyun-Hoon Lee
Professor
Kangwon National University 1 1

2. Hyun-Hoon Lee
Professor, Faculty of Economics and International Trade, Kangwon National University, Korea - Current
Dean, Asia-Pacific Cooperation Academy, Kangwon National University, Korea
Senior Analyst, Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Secretariat
Senior Environmental Affairs Officer, United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP)
Visiting Professor, University of British Columbia, Keio University, University Melbourne, Bank of Korea, etc.
Ph.D. in Economics, University of Oregon

4. Contents 1. International trade: a review 2. Multilateralism
3. Regionalism
4. Major regional blocs
5. Future of East Asian economic integration
6. Epilogue 4 4

5. 1. International Trade: a review
■ Trend of world trade
Source: The Economist, 201u.

6. 1. International Trade: a review
■ Trend of world trade
Source: WTO, World Trade Statistical Review 2016.

7. Source: WTO, World Trade Statistical Review 2017.

8. 1. International Trade: a review
■ Trend of Korea’s trade
Source: Bank of Korea

9. 1. International Trade: a review
■ What are the Reasons for Fast Expansion of International Trade?

10. 1. International Trade: a review
■ What are the Reasons for Fast Expansion of International Trade?
Liberalization of Trade
GATT/WTO
Economic Integration
Development of Transport
Sea Transport
Air Transport
Development of Telecommunication
Telephone
Internet

11. 1. International Trade: a review
■ What are the Reasons for Fast Expansion of International Trade?
Container shipping dramatically reduced shipping costs making it much easier and cost effective to ship world-wide.

12. 1. International Trade: a review
■ What are the Fundamental Reasons for International Trade?
Comparative advantage
Difference in technology - David Ricardo
Difference in factor endowments – Heckscher-Ohlin
 Inter-industry trade
Economies of scale and product differentiation
Economies of scale
Product differentiation
 Intra-industry trade

13. Costs of International Trade
1. International Trade: a review
■ What are the Consequences (Benefits and Costs) of International Trade?
Benefits of International Trade
Costs of International Trade

14. 1. International Trade: a review
Benefits of International Trade
Individuals
Consumption of better quality products with lower prices
Consumption of diverse products
Firms
Greater business opportunities
Greater profit
Nation
Fast economic growth
Job creation

15. Costs of International Trade
1. International Trade: a review
Costs of International Trade
Individuals
Loss of jobs employed in less competitive industries
Firms
Face stronger competition and may lose competitive edge
Nation
Greater income disparity
Possibility of environmental degradation in developing countries
Greater vulnerability to foreign shocks

16. 1. International Trade: a review
Net Benefit of International Trade
Firms
Greater business opportunity but may lose competitive edge
Individuals
As consumers, individuals become better off, but as workers, individuals may become worse off.
Nation
Overall national welfare becomes greater, but the nation may face the problems of income disparity, environmental degradation, etc.

17. 1. International Trade: a review
■ Who are the major trade partners?
Gravity Model
Bilateral trade between two countries is positively related to the product of the two countries’ GDPs and negatively related to the distance between the two countries.
That is, the larger the two countries’ GDPs and the closer two countries are, the larger the volume of trade between them is expected to be.
Implications:

18. Multilateralism vs. regionalism
1. International Trade: a review
■ What are the major trade policies?
Free trade vs. non-free trade
Tariff and non-tariff barriers
Multilateralism vs. regionalism

19. The World Trade Organization (WTO)
2. Multilateralism
The World Trade Organization (WTO)
General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT)
A multilateral agreement whose purpose was the "substantial reduction of tariffs and other trade barriers and the elimination of preferences, on a reciprocal and mutually advantageous basis."
Signed by 23 nations in 1947 and took effect in 1948.
There were eight rounds of multilateral negotiations, focusing mostly on tariff rate cuts, except the last round (Uruguay Round)
Lasted until 1994 and was replaced by the World Trade Organization (WTO) on January 1, 1995.
The original GATT text (GATT 1947) is still in effect under the WTO framework, subject to the modifications of GATT 1994.

20. The World Trade Organization (WTO)
2. Multilateralism
The World Trade Organization (WTO)
The Uruguay Round
GATT’s eighth round of negotiations, with 123 countries participating.
Began in September 1986 with completion scheduled for December 1990.
Disagreements between United States and European Union, on reducing agricultural subsidies, delayed conclusion for three years.
Concluded with the signature by 123 nations in Marrakesh on April 14, 1994.
Agreement took effect in July, 1995.

21. The World Trade Organization (WTO)
2. Multilateralism
The World Trade Organization (WTO)
Results of the Uruguay Round:
Established rules for monitoring protectionism and reversing the trend.
Brought services, agriculture and foreign investments to international rules.
Agreed also on international rules for protection of intellectual property rights.
Stronger and more efficient rulings on dispute settlements.
Established the WTO in place of the GATT Secretariat.

22. The World Trade Organization (WTO)
2. Multilateralism
The World Trade Organization (WTO)
Source: WTO, World Trade Annual Report 2017.
Source: WTO, World Trade Statistical Review 2017.

23. The World Trade Organization (WTO)
2. Multilateralism
The World Trade Organization (WTO)
Doha Round
Launched in November, 2001, in Doha, Qatar.
The Round is also known as the Doha Development Agenda as a fundamental objective is to improve the trading prospects of developing countries.
Agenda included:
Further liberalization of production and trade in agriculture, industrial products, and services.
Further tightening of antidumping regulations, investment and competition policies.

24. The World Trade Organization (WTO)
2. Multilateralism
The World Trade Organization (WTO)
Doha Round
Developing nations are reluctant to make concessions because of feeling that Uruguay Round failed to deliver on promises.
Developing nations insisted on making Doha Round a true “development round”.
Intended to conclude by end of 2004, all but collapsed in over disagreements over agricultural subsidies between developed and developing nations.
Its future remains uncertain.

25. 3. Regionalism
In the period , the GATT received 124 notifications of RTAs (relating to trade in goods), and since the creation of the WTO in 1995, over 400 additional arrangements covering trade in goods or services have been notified.
Source: WTO Secretariat (

26. 3. Regionalism Economic Integration
Economic integration refers to the commercial policy of discriminatively reducing or eliminating barriers only among the nations joining together.

27. 3. Regionalism Economic Integration Free trade areas
Removes all barriers to trade among members, but each nation retains its own barriers to trade with non-members.
Examples:
European Free Trade Association (EFTA), 1960, between United Kingdom, Austria, Denmark, Norway, Portugal, Sweden and Switzerland
North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), 1993, between the United States, Canada and Mexico

28. 3. Regionalism Economic Integration Customs union
Removes all barriers to trade among members and harmonizes trade policies toward the rest of the world.
Example:
European Community (EC), 1957, between West Germany, France, Italy, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg.

29. 3. Regionalism Economic Integration Common market
Removes all barriers to trade among members, harmonizes trade policies toward the rest of the world, and allows free movement of labor and capital among member nations.
Example:
European Community (EC) achieved common market status in 1993.

30. 3. Regionalism Economic Integration Economic union
Removes all barriers to trade among members, harmonizes trade policies towards the rest of the world, allows free movement of labor and capital among member nations, and unifies monetary and fiscal policies of members.
Examples:
Benelux, formed after World War II between Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg
European Union (EC)

31. Static Effects of Economic Integration
3. Regionalism
Static Effects of Economic Integration
Trade creation effects vs. trade diversion effects.
Spaghetti bowl effects.
Administration savings from elimination of customs officers, border patrols, and others.
Reduction in demand for imports from rest of the world will likely lead to improvement in collective terms of trade of member nations.
By acting as a single unit, customs union will likely have more bargaining power than members separately.

32. Dynamic Benefits of Economic Integration
3. Regionalism
Dynamic Benefits of Economic Integration
Increased competition, leading to greater efficiencies and technological improvements.
Economies of scale from the enlarged market.
Stimulus of investment to take advantage of enlarged market, and to meet increased competition.
Better utilization of community resources as labor and capital move freely (assumes common market).

33. 4. Major trading blocs EU (European Union)
NAFTA (North American Free Trade Agreement)
ASEAN (Association of South East Asian Nations)
MERCOSUR (Mercado Comun del Condo Sur, South Common Markets)
TPP (Trans-Pacific Partnership)?
RCEP (Regional Closer Economic Partnership)?
FTAAP (Free Trade Area of Asia and the Pacific)?

34. 4. Major trading blocs The European Union (EU)
1958 – established common external tariff (Customs Union)
1968 – Achieved free trade in industrial goods within EU, and common price for agricultural goods
1970 – Reduced restrictions on movement of labor and capital
1993 – Removed all remaining restrictions on flow of goods, services and resources, becoming largest trade bloc in the world (Common market)
1999 –Began to use the common currency, Euro among 19 members out of 28 EU member states (Monetary union)
2016 – Brexit: UK will leave EU (Leave won by 52% to 42% in a referendum on June 23, 2016)

35. The European Union (EU)

36. 4. Major trading blocs The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)
1994 – formed by United States, Canada and Mexico, to eventually lead to free trade in goods and services over entire North American area.
Also phased out many other barriers to trade and reduced barriers to cross-border investments among the three member nations.
Under Donald Trump’s presidency of the United States, a renegotiation has started.
Trump tweeted that it was the “worst trade deal ever made” and “may have to terminate?”

37. 4. Major trading blocs The Southern Common Market (Mercosur)
Argentina, Paraguay, Brazil, and Uruguay in 1991, and Venezuela (joined in 2012 but suspended in Dec. 2016).
Associate members are Bolivia and Chile (1996), Peru (2003), Columbia, and Ecuador
It is now a customs union.
Salvatore: International Economics, 11th Edition © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

38. The Southern Common Market (Mercosur)

39. 4. Major trading blocs Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN)
Formed in 1967 by Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand.
10 members: Brunei, Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam
Primarily a political association, but began in 1977 to move toward a common market, with a little success.
ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA) agreement was signed in 1992.

40. Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN)

41. Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN)
ASEAN has been a platform for Asian integrations and cooperations.
In 1990, Malaysia proposed the creation of an East Asian Economic Caucus composed of ASEAN members as well as China, Japan, and South Korea.
It failed because of heavy opposition from the U.S. and Japan.
In 1997, ASEAN Plus Three was created and in 2000, the Chiang Mai Initiative was established.
Asian Currency Unit (ACU) was proposed.
In 2005, East Asia Summit (EAS) was established among ASEAN Plus Three as well as Australia, New Zealand, and India (known as ASEAN Plus Six).
The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) is currently under negotiations. (arguably as a first step toward building Asian Economic Community) .

42. 4. Major trading blocs

43. 5. Future of East Asian Economic Integration
Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP)
12 countries among 21 APEC members.
Largest trading block in terms of GDP (40% of world GDP).
US, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Mexico, Malaysia, Vietnam, Singapore, Brunei, Chile, and Peru.
Final agreement signed on February 4, 2017.
US exit on January 30, 2017
The other 11 TPP countries agreed in May 2017 to revive the deal without US participation

44. Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP)

45. 5. Future of East Asian Economic Integration
Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP)
16 countries: ASEAN Plus Six
Largest trading block in terms of population (3.4 billion, 46% of world population).
Negotiations started in November 2012 at the ASEAN Summit in Cambodia and is scheduled to be finalized in 2017.
The 19th round of RCEP negotiations was held in July in India.

46. 5. Future of East Asian Economic Integration
Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP)
출처: 라미경, 김재국, “역내포괄적경제동반자협정(RCEP)의 추진현황과 시사점”, KIEP 오늘의 세계경제,

47. Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP)
Source: Wikipedia

48. Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP)
출처: 라미경, 김재국, “역내포괄적경제동반자협정(RCEP)의 추진현황과 시사점”, KIEP 오늘의 세계경제,

49. Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP)
출처: 라미경, 김재국, “역내포괄적경제동반자협정(RCEP)의 추진현황과 시사점”, KIEP 오늘의 세계경제,

50. 5. Future of East Asian Economic Integration
Free Trade Area of Asia and the Pacific (FTAAP)
Proposed by Asia-Pacific Economic Forum (APEC).
APEC, established in 1989, is a regional form comprising of 21 economies located in Asia and the Pacific, including Russia.
In 1993, the first APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting was held in Seattle, U.S.
In 1994, the Bogor Goals was adopted for free and open trade and invest in the Asia-Pacific by 2010 for industrialized economies and by 2020 for developing economies.
In 2006, the concept of FTAAP was first discussed at its summit.
This idea was first proposed by a Japanese economist, Kiyoshi Kojima in 1966.
Fred Bergsten, a U.S. economist, advocated the FTAAP in 2006.
In 2014 APEC leaders agreed to launch “a collective strategic study” on the FTAAP.
The realization of FTAAP may take many, many, many years.

51. Note: Countries in red are those with which Korea has signed an FTA.
5. Future of East Asian Economic Integration
Hong Kong, PNG, Russia,
Chinese Taipei
Canada
Mexico
U.S.
Brunei
Malaysia
Singapore
Vietnam
Australia
Japan, NZ
Indonesia
Philippines
Thailand
Cambodia
Laos
Myanmar
India
China, Korea
Chile
Peru
APEC (FTAAP)
RCEP
TPP
NAFTA
ASEAN
Note: Countries in red are those with which Korea has signed an FTA.

52. 5. Future of East Asian Economic Integration

53. 6. Epilogue – Questions for Review
1. Do we need an East Asian Community (EAC)? Discuss it from the perspectives of Korea (and East Asia)
2. What would be the ideal coverage of membership for an EAC?
3. What would be the ideal procedure of forming an EAC?
4. What would the consequences of having an EAC in Asia?

54. Hyun-Hoon Lee