Trade Area Research Articles

Майбутнє міжнародного права: інтеграція сучасних технологій, гібридні підходи та створення нових нормативних рамок для глобального співтовариства

Annotation. In today's world, the impact of technology on international relations and the legal system is rapidly increasing, which is due, in particular, to the development of information technology. Globalisation has covered the economic, political and cultural spheres of society, which has led to the relevance of this work. This article examines the future of international law in the context of integration of modern technologies, hybrid approaches and creation of a new regulatory framework for the global community. The article examines the methods used, such as modelling conflict situations with the help of artificial intelligence, applying cyber measures to ensure cybersecurity, integrating blockchain technologies to increase the reliability and transparency of international agreements, and analysing big data to predict trends in international legal issues. The role of technology in expanding opportunities for international cooperation and improving conflict resolution mechanisms will be discussed. Particular attention will be paid to hybrid approaches that combine traditional methods with innovative tools, contributing to the creation of more effective and flexible normative mechanisms. It will also examine the challenges and opportunities associated with the use of these technologies in contemporary conflicts, trade, human rights and other areas of international law. These new types of conflicts combine both military and non-military methods, including cyberattacks, disinformation, hacking, hybrid propaganda and economic pressure. The analysis highlights the prospects for the development of a new normative framework that takes into account modern technologies and hybrid approaches, contributing to a more just, secure and stable international system. This article will contribute to a better understanding of the relationship between technological innovation and the future of international law, providing an important contribution to the development of this important field. The analysis concludes that modern technology can serve as an engine for creating a more efficient, flexible and equitable normative framework in global international relations.

Main drivers of regional value chains in CAFTA: Does trade facilitation matter?

In the last decades, economic globalisation and the progress of ICT have promoted the international division of labour and optimisation of the global value chain. Moreover, improvements in incentives such as lower tariffs and more efficient border crossings have boosted international trade. Under this background, regional and sub-regional economic cooperation organizations, such as free trade area (FTA), have been developing rapidly and attracting many academic attentions. As the fastest growing FTA in the world, CAFTA is now the largest FTA in developing countries. This study focuses on the value-added network of various industries in the trade process inside CAFTA, and tries to explore the impact of trade facilitation on the DVA trade network of CAFTA. The results show that in the trade network of CAFTA, the proportion of added value of domestic trade in total exports keeps increasing, and the returned added value (RDV) increases significantly. Singapore, Vietnam, and Thailand hold relatively high positions in the production network, while China has a relatively low position. On the other hand, China and Thailand become the main beneficiaries after the establishment of CAFTA, while Singapore and Malaysia play a lesser role in trading networks. The results also show that trade facilitation has a significant positive effect on the DVA-INTrex and RDV trade networks, indicating that trade facilitation can significantly increase the domestic indirect value added and returned value added in the trade process. Moreover, the business environment (bus) is the most important factor, with efficiency and transparency of border administration (cus), availability, and use of ICTs (ict) contributing to the improvement.

A critical analysis of the cross-border financial crime risks inherent in the African continental free trade area

PurposeThis paper aims to provide authorities managing free trade zones, business enterprises, financial institutions and dedicated free zone customs, police and immigration command assigned to deal with aspects of movement of goods and persons in and out of the free zones with a clear understanding of the cross-border financial crime risks associated with the African Continental Free Trade Area and the risk control measures that combines human intelligence with advanced technology to combat cross-border financial crimes in the African Continental Free Trade Area.Design/methodology/approachA range of research activities would be used in this study. In addition to a sweeping literature review of academic, official studies and media writings, the main focus is on critically evaluating and analysing primary data by searching and collecting statutes, court cases, administrative rules and regulations and policy documents.FindingsThis paper identified bribery and corruption; modern slavery; and trade-based money laundering as the financial crime risks that are of priority concern to African Continental Free Trade Areas and demonstrated how countries can assess and mitigate these risks through adequate policies, procedures and controls including appropriate compliance management arrangement and adequate screening procedures to ensure high standards when hiring employees; corporate transparency; training on managing incidents of modern slavery, forced labour and third-party exploitation; and appropriate monitoring framework for trade-based money laundering activities.Originality/valueWhile many authors have written research papers on intra-African trade, none of those research papers explained how countries can assess and mitigate financial crime risks in free trade zones. This research paper describes the ways in which cross-border financial crime risks can be assessed and adequately addressed by the authorities managing free trade zones. This research paper analyses the risk assessment topic in line with the African Continental Free Trade Area with a focus on free trade zones in Nigeria. This research paper would help authorities managing free trade zones, commercial organisations and business enterprises to identify, prevent and mitigate cross-border financial crime risks. Zone managements and business enterprises that implement the risk-based approach, in line with the guidance given in this research paper, will be well-placed to avoid the consequences of inappropriate de-risking behaviour.

The Challenges of Regional Integration and Effective Implementation of African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Policy in Africa

The paper is an investigation of the challenges of regional integration in Africa and their effects on the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) policy. The major objective of the paper is to proffer solutions to the challenges for the effective actualization of the policy. The assumptions of the neo-liberal theory were used to support the AfCFTA initiative to promote economic growth and development in Africa. The data used to advance the argument were obtained from secondary sources of data collection. The study finds that language barrier, multiple currencies, porosity of borders, foreign interference, political instability and insecurity, poor human development, over-lapping of membership of sub-regional organizations, poor state of infrastructure, and state-centric nature of integration initiatives are some of the core challenges hindering the effective execution of the AfCFTA policy. The study recommends that the African Union (AU) should intensify effort at realizing a single currency policy for Africa; design comprehensive regional security architecture to include high technological surveillance, joint air and ground border patrol among member states of Regional Economic Communities (RECs) to address trans-border crimes and insecurity. There should also be institutionalization of counterpart funding among AU member-states for infrastructural development; and encouragement of private and civil society participation in the integration initiative, among others. In concludes that if the challenges identified are not effectively addressed, it will be very difficult for the AU to successfully realize the objectives of the AfCFTA policy.

STRATEGIES OF MACRO-REGIONAL INTEGRATION ASSOCIATIONS ON THE EXAMPLE OF ASEAN

The article is devoted to the analysis of the integration policy of the ASEAN countries. ASEAN includes countries with very different levels of economic development, population, and area, but this integration association is successful and plays an important role in the economic and political spheres in the Southeast Asian region. The article examines the ASEAN approach to regional integration, which is characterized by a “soft character”, in contrast to the European and North American approaches. The main stages of the development of the studied union and the circumstances that prevented the economic integration of the participating countries at the initial stage were analyzed. The main principles of ASEAN work, which are enshrined in the Bangkok Declaration of 1967 and the ASEAN Charter of 2007, are defined. The main directions and mechanisms of economic integration of countries are analyzed, namely: the agreement on the formation of a preferential trade zone, the agreement on the creation of a free trade area (AFTA), the framework agreement on the ASEAN investment zone (AIA), industrial cooperation schemes (AICO), the ASEAN framework agreement with services (AFAS). Also, the article provides an assessment of the main macroeconomic indicators of the participating countries and the union as a whole: GDP volumes in dynamics, the structure and dynamics of trade relations, the commodity and geographical structure of the union’s export-import operations. Problematic issues of the ASEAN integration association have been identified. The current state of cooperation between Ukraine and ASEAN was analyzed, including the volume of export-import operations in terms of the product structure, and prospects for the expansion of economic cooperation were also established. The paper draws conclusions about the success of the ASEAN development strategy and suggests ways to develop cooperation between ASEAN and Ukraine.

Study on the Influencing Factors of China's Outward FDI in RCEP Member Countries

The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) is the world's most populous free trade area with the largest economic and trade scale and the most development potential, and it will officially come into force in 2022, providing an opportunity for RCEP member countries to attract investment from China. Based on the information of economic and demographic characteristics of RCEP member countries from 2012 to 2020 and the panel data from China's ODFI, this paper measures and examines the influencing factors of China's direct investment in RCEP member countries by constructing a bidirectional fixed effects panel model of China's direct investment in RCEP countries. It is found that: the host country's net per capita national income, per capita GDP growth rate, merchandise trade and service trade inhibit China's investment in RCEP member countries, while the host country's GDP growth rate, per capita GDP can promote China's investment in RCEP countries, the host country's industry, exchange rate, and legal indices are not the main factors affecting China's direct investment in RCEP, and should be used in the comprehensive investment decision-making when On the basis of considering the unbalanced economic development of each country, the optimal layout of China's direct investment in RCEP member countries should be co-ordinated to provide more opportunities for Chinese enterprises to enter the markets of RCEP member countries.

Gestão empresarial, trabalho e um mercado urbano em disputa

Abstract This article retraces the conflicts that emerged during the Parliamentary Inquiry Committee (PIC) of Feira da Madrugada to discuss the expansion of the entrepreneurial management of popular trade areas, as well as changes in workers' experiences. Considering the PIC event as an arena in which the management of this commercial area was viewed as a "public problem", it is argued that the center of the conflict was marked by tensions between two distinct perspectives on popular markets and legitimate uses of urban space: a perspective that recognizes a "social function" in these activities, and a market rationale that identifies urban popular trade areas as favorable for investment and to foster entrepreneurship.

Income, Trade Openness, and Carbon Emission: Comparative Analysis of Continents and Trade Regions

Trade is one of the significant contributors to carbon emissions because it promotes transportation and merchandise production. With the threat of global warming, it is essential to study how trade influences carbon emissions and what are the potential solutions. This paper tests the correlation between trade openness and carbon emissions in different continents and regions. Using panel data analysis, the regression result suggests that the relationship is positive in Africa, South America, Asia, and North America, while it is negative in Europe and Oceania. Moreover, positive relationships are also observed in afCFTA (African Continental Free Trade Area) and non-afCFTA, while EU (European Union), non-EU regions, GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council), and non-GCC regions display negative trends. The result verified that developed regions are generally more efficient at carbon emissions compared to under-developed ones. Therefore, high-income continents need to aid low-income continents with carbon reduction. Countries located on a low-income continent should insert more effort to reduce emissions when they intend to boost trading with other countries. The regression coefficients also suggest that non-EU and non-afCFTA countries should join the free trade agreements from an environmental aspect. All regions should not neglect emissions when trading and adopt strategies based on local characteristics to combat the increasing global emissions together.

Impact of the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Zone on the Economic Development of the Republic of Moldova

The Republic of Moldova, being a state with a small economy, has considerably diversified its sales markets, focusing primarily on the European Union market, which currently absorbs more than half of its exports. The present study tries to highlight the benefits of the Association Agreement and the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA) implementation, which contributes to increasing the competitiveness of domestic companies on European markets and the liberalization of trade in goods and services. In conclusion, some measures are highlighted that are necessary to be implemented by the Republic of Moldova, in order to ensure the economy reorientation towards export by diversifying both the geographical structure and products in particular, improving commercial policy regulations, product quality, attracting investments foreign direct, the elimination of corruption.

Prospects for China–Africa continental free trade area (CAFTA)

Prospects for China–Africa continental free trade area (CAFTA)

Peran Perlindungan Hukum Terhadap Pasar di Era Liberalisasi Perdagangan di Indonesia

Investing in economic development is an important aspect because investment is one of the driving forces in the process of strengthening a country's economy. Several countries have made efforts to increase investment within the framework of their economic policies, as one way to encourage the process of strengthening the economy (Jati, 2012). Over the last decade, investment has not only become an important need for a country to advance its economic development but is also the most important means of developing industry. The research method used in this journal is qualitative. This research uses a qualitative approach to understand the factors influencing traditional markets and their impact on society and the economy. In this research, the author uses descriptive analysis to explain the conditions of traditional markets and the impact of changes in consumer preferences and the shift in people's shopping places to modern shopping centers. Indonesia has decided to become a member of both regional and world trade, such as: GATT (General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade), AFTA (Asean Free Trade Area), APEC (Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation) and WTO (Word Trade Organization). Indonesia has become a member of regional and world trade, so at the same time, Indonesia has become part of the global community and trade liberalization. Basically, liberalization creates an era of global trade that is free of borders, protection and barriers. This also increases trade competition between economic actors. The challenges of traditional markets in facing the impact of globalization and trade liberalization are characterized by the flow of investment into Indonesia from one most profitable region to another in all investment sectors. This phenomenon makes capital investment or investment a demand to meet the needs of a country, company and society, for example by investing in the modern retail industry (modern markets), such as: supermarkets, hypermarkets, minimarkets.

Challenges and Opportunities of Women and Youths Financial Inclusion in the Context of AfCFTA. Case Study of Sub-Saharan Africa.

The agreement establishing the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) was launched in 2018. A commendable level of commitment has been demonstrated by member states since signing the agreement. Women and youths occupy a critical place in the political economy of Africa, and the success of many continental initiatives such as the AfCFTA agreement is expected to be dependent on the extent to which the youths are mainstreamed in the financial-economic inclusion initiatives. This is largely because Africa is a youthful continent, with women and youth constituting over 60% and 50% respectively of the continent’s population. The current level of inclusion of women and youths in existing AfCFTA programmes does not reflect the expected contribution of this class of population. The main implication of these population classes is the potential job creation challenges on the continent, especially as the labour force is projected to reach about one billion by 2030. This paper, therefore, examined the challenges, opportunities and how women and youth involvement in the process could lead to their financial-economic inclusion and independence in Africa with a focus on the Sub-Saharan region leveraging on the AfCFTA programmes. The study is descriptive in nature. Available secondary data from reports issued by AU, AfCFTA and World Bank was extensively used for the study. A simple percentage method was used for analysing the secondary data in order to show the trend and status of financial inclusion. The findings of the study reflect on ways to improve regional and continental integration frameworks from youth and gender perspectives.

Potential impacts of Bangladesh–China free trade area: a general equilibrium analysis

Potential impacts of Bangladesh–China free trade area: a general equilibrium analysis

Assessing the triage and efficacy of strategies of SAARC to improve regional integrity of South Asia using multicriteria group decision making under q-rung orthopair hesitant fuzzy environment

The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) plays a crucial role in fostering regional integration and cooperation among the countries of South Asia. However, the organization faces various challenges in achieving its objectives due to the complex and dynamic nature of the region. This study aims to assess the triage and efficacy of strategies employed by SAARC in pursuit of regional integrity in South Asia, using a Multi-Criteria Group Decision Making (MCGDM) technique. The assessment process involves several uncertainties which are resolved using q-rung orthopair hesitant fuzzy (q-ROHF) set. A distance measure is developed for q-ROHF sets and is applied to find the best strategy among six well known strategies, viz., SAARC Agreement on Trade in Services (SATIS), SAARC Development Fund (SDF), Establishment of South Asian University (SAU), SAARC Arbitration Council (SARCO), South Asian Preferential Trade Agreement (SAPTA) and South Asian Free Trade Area (SAFTA) through SWARA-TOPSIS based MCGDM technique. The MCGDM method is updated by developing several aggregation operators, viz., Archimedean q-ROHF weighted average, q-ROHF Einstein weighted average, q-ROHF Hamacher weighted average, q-ROHF Frank weighted average along with their geometric forms to combine decision makers’ individual decision. The result shows that the most effective strategy for the economic integration of SAARC is SDF; SATIS comes next as best strategy for economic integration of SAARC. The study reveals that SAU has least impact on the regional economic integration of SAARC. The achieved results reveals the age old proverb that “play on the stomach and sit on the back” – the members of SAARC who are by nature economically poor can afford to take initiative for a successful effective regionalization if it is planned to bring socio economic development of themselves.

Exploring the Possibilities of Legal Harmonisation of Non-Tariff Barriers of RECs for the Achievement of the AfCFTA

African Union (AU) countries are expected to pursue more effective, responsive and non-discriminatory regulations to build a more productive regional economy. This article interrogates the prospects of implementing legal harmonisation of Non-Tariff Barriers (NTBs) in the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). The article adopts a qualitative review of the literature with reference to the European Union (EU) and the Organisation for the Harmonisation of Business Law in Africa (OHADA). Analysing instruments of legal harmonisation of the AU and Regional Economic Communities (RECs) reveals lapses in the harmonisation agenda, which impedes intra-regional trade. Furthermore, the article examines the methods of legal harmonisation, benefits, setbacks and efforts RECs make to harmonise NTBs. Also, examining attempts at legal harmonisation by RECs reveals that the harmonisation objectives of the AU’s legal frameworks have not been effective. On the other hand, RECs have progressed unequally in meeting their treaty goals and essential programmes. This article establishes that the legal harmonisation model, political will and states’ inability to supranationalise community rules are the major reasons for the lack of harmonisation. In addition, overambitious targets with limited resources account for the failure of the AU and its RECs to achieve their stated objectives. Finally, the article proposes a legal harmonisation model that will directly affect domestic regulations.

Labour Mobility in the Asean Economic Community – A Story in Viet Nam's Sustainable Development Goals

Purpose: This article analyzes Vietnam's sustainable development strategy when participating in the Southeast Asian Community of Nations (ASEAN) based on 3 pillars: Political-Security Community, Economic Community and Socio-Cultural Community. The admission of labour by member states participating in ASEAN's labour market will become a more cohesive political-economic entity, a community "united in diversity"; continue to be an open and important regional cooperation organization in the Asia-Pacific. Theoretical reference: The overall objective of the ASEAN Community is to build the Association into a deeper and more binding intergovernmental cooperation organization based on the legal basis of the ASEAN Charter; but not a supranational and non-closed organization that still expands cooperation with the outside. Methods: the article analyzes the factors affecting the outlook, the labour market in ASEAN has gradually transformed into an intergovernmental cooperation organization with a higher level of legal binding and deeper links but has not become a supranational organization. In that process, Vietnam's participation in the ASEAN labour market is an inevitable process of the ASEAN Economic Community. Results and conclusions: In the economic field, this is an area with important strides and is currently a driving force for accelerating the process of regional integration. Up to now, ASEAN has basically fulfilled its commitments on the formation of the ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA), with most tariff lines having been reduced to 0-5%. ASEAN has identified 12 priority areas for early integration to further boost intra-regional trade. Intra-regional trade currently reaches about US$300 billion and accounts for about 25 per cent of ASEAN's total trade. Vietnam's participation in the ASEAN Economic Community has favorable factors and challenges. Vietnam needs to improve policies in training high-quality human resources to meet labor standards in the ASEAN Economic Community. Implications of research: The ASEAN Economic Community aims to create a single common market and unified production base, including the free flow of goods, services, investment, capital and skilled labour; thereby enhancing competitiveness and promoting shared prosperity for the whole region; making it attractive for investment – business from the outside. Viet Nam's extensive labour market participation in ASEAN will boost effectiveness in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals Originality/value: With the goal of "For an ASEAN Economic Community for Sustainable Development", the article analyzed Vietnam's participation in the ASEAN labour market.Successful integration in the labour market will help Vietnam reduce poverty rates, improve the quality of human resources and develop sustainably.

China-ASEAN Agricultural Product Trade and Its Impact

With the establishment of the China-ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) Free Trade Area, a worlds largest consumer market is forming which includes over 2 billion people. According to the Early Harvest program, the terms of trade of agricultural products bilateral have been improving and the volume has increased significantly, overall presents a strong resource-market pattern of mutual benefit and complementarity. This paper describes the present situation of China-ASEAN trade pattern of agricultural products, meanwhile points out the complementary and competitive relationship of agricultural products trade and the problems exist as well as the countermeasures. This is quite significant for China to improve its agriculture competitive in the region and even in the world. This paper uses the comparative advantage theory analysis method. Although the establishment of the comprehensive strategic partnership needs more efforts and cooperation from both sides, agricultural trade is one of the important concrete actions for laying the foundation for prosperity and peace of bilateral relations.

Intelligent Decision Support Systems—An Analysis of Machine Learning and Multicriteria Decision-Making Methods

Context: The selection and use of appropriate multi-criteria decision making (MCDM) methods for solving complex problems is one of the challenging issues faced by decision makers in the search for appropriate decisions. To address these challenges, MCDM methods have effectively been used in the areas of ICT, farming, business, and trade, for example. This study explores the integration of machine learning and MCDM methods, which has been used effectively in diverse application areas. Objective: The objective of the research is to critically analyze state-of-the-art research methods used in intelligent decision support systems and to further identify their application areas, the significance of decision support systems, and the methods, approaches, frameworks, or algorithms exploited to solve complex problems. The study provides insights for early-stage researchers to design more intelligent and cost-effective solutions for solving problems in various application domains. Method: To achieve the objective, literature from the years 2015 to early 2020 was searched and considered in the study based on quality assessment criteria. The selected relevant literature was studied to respond to the research questions proposed in this study. To find answers to the research questions, pertinent literature was analyzed to identify the application domains where decision support systems are exploited, the impact and significance of the contributions, and the algorithms, methods, and techniques which are exploited in various domains to solve decision-making problems. Results: Results of the study show that decision support systems are widely used as useful decision-making tools in various application domains. The research has collectively studied machine learning, artificial intelligence, and multi-criteria decision-making models used to provide efficient solutions to complex decision-making problems. In addition, the study delivers detailed insights into the use of AI, ML and MCDM methods to the early-stage researchers to start their research in the right direction and provide them with a clear roadmap of research. Hence, the development of Intelligent Decision Support Systems (IDSS) using machine learning (ML) and multicriteria decision-making (MCDM) can assist researchers to design and develop better decision support systems. These findings can help researchers in designing more robust, efficient, and effective multicriteria-based decision models, frameworks, techniques, and integrated solutions.

DTI Development Framework in Application to Business Operations among Selected Micro Small Medium Enterprises Towards an Enhanced Business Model

Ninety-nine percent of the establishments in the Philippines are constituted by Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), which hold a vital role in delivering consumer needs and wants. The Philippine Statistics Authority reported a decrease in export trade and business registration percentage for the last five years. The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) introduced the 7Ms Development Framework to address this issue. In this study, 240 MSMEs participated in a survey to assess the following: 1) How do the assessed Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises depict the DTI’s business in relation to business climate, market access, technology accessibility, innovation, finance accessibility, as well as management and labor capacity; 2) The effectiveness of the DTI development framework, in relation to Mastery, Mind, Money, Mentoring, Market, Machine, and Model; 3) The prevalent issues and challenges encountered by selected MSMEs in coping with the development of the Department of Trade and Industry’s 7Ms development framework; 4) Identifying gaps based on the common issues and concerns raised by MSMEs; and 5) Proposing a business model to enhance the strategic and global competitiveness of MSMEs. The study’s findings indicated that the majority of the selected micro, small, and medium enterprises described the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) business focus area “access to the market” as the “most” moderately visible or adequately observed. Access to technology and innovation, on the other hand, was viewed as the “least” moderately visible. In terms of the DTI development framework’s effectiveness, participants perceived that money was the “most” moderately effective or adequately applicable to their business operations, while mastery was regarded as the “least” moderately effective. Results also show that the most challenges and issues that selected MSMEs encounter include difficulties in business licensing and permits, high cost of inputs, and access or finance. LGU’s non-uniformity of rules, high cost of inputs, and high standards/qualifications set for MSMEs to access finance are the gaps identified. The researcher used different statistical methods, such as weighted mean and standard deviation. The data analysis involved the use of a Windows-based program called the Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS). The study recommended a business model for how MSMEs become sustainable and globally competitive. Keywords: Effectiveness, Development Framework, business focus area, business model, issues and concerns, gaps

Perancangan Desain Kawasan Rekreasi di Sungai Bolango Guna Mengembangkan serta Memanfaatkan Potensi Wilayah

The design of the recreation area on the Bolango River as a development of a trade and tourism area is an area design that is based on the various potentials and problems it has, such as the existence of regions bordering the waterfront area with multiple characters and uniqueness. This area is a potential area whose initial plan was only to be developed with residential functions, but it experienced several obstacles in the process. Therefore, by looking at the lack of public space around the area, in this case, the recreational area design is oriented as a Commercial Waterfront and Recreational Waterfront, which can provide benefits to various parties, namely investors, government and the community.