Free trade area

[11] Such a shift will not benefit consumers within the free trade area as they are deprived the opportunity to purchase cheaper imported goods.

This system as a force of clarification for existing statutes and international economic policies is affirmed within the trade treaties.

[13] The second way in which free trade areas are considered public goods is tied to the evolving trend of them becoming "deeper".

The depth of a free trade area refers to the added types of structural policies that it covers.

While older trade deals are deemed "shallower" as they cover fewer areas (such as tariffs and quotas), more recently concluded agreements address a number of other fields, from services to e-commerce and data localization.

Such risk necessitates the introduction of rules to determine originating goods eligible for preferences under a free trade area, a need that does not arise upon the formation of a customs union.

[15] Basically, there is a requirement for a minimum extent of processing that results in "substantial transformation" to the goods so that they can be considered originating.

This database provides users with an updated list of all agreements in force, however, those not notified to the WTO may be missing.

The database, visible via the online tool Market Access Map, includes information on tariff and non-tariff barriers in all active trade agreements, not limited to those officially notified to the WTO.

It also documents data on non-preferential trade agreements (for instance, Generalized System of Preferences schemes).

Up until 2019, Market Access Map has provided downloadable links to texts agreements and their rules of origin.

[22] The new version of Market Access Map forthcoming this year will provide direct web links to relevant agreement pages and connect itself to other ITC's tools, particularly the Rules of Origin Facilitator.